A giant tunnelling machine named Madeleine has started excavating the HS2 route to Euston, despite ongoing uncertainty over the central London station's development. The 190-metre-long machine, built in Germany by Herrenknecht AG, will spend around 18 months carving a 4.5-mile tunnel from Old Oak Common in west London.
The launch on Tuesday was overseen by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones and Rail Minister Lord Hendy. Old Oak Common is set to be the initial London terminus for HS2 services due to delays at Euston, where major construction has been paused since March 2023 because of funding doubts.
In October 2023, then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the Euston project would rely on private investment to save £6.5 billion of taxpayers' money. In June 2025, the Labour government said a Euston Delivery Company would be formed to oversee development, exploring private finance options.
HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Wild, who began his role in December 2024, said the launch shows confidence that HS2 will reach central London. A revised cost and schedule for the project is expected this year following a comprehensive review. The original £37.5 billion estimate for the full network has risen to up to £66 billion for the London-Birmingham line alone.
