Bromford tunnel
From Water Orton to Birmingham
The Bromford tunnel is a 3.5-mile (5.8km) long tunnel connecting Water Orton in North Warwickshire to Washwood Heath in Birminghan. Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) – Mary Ann and Elizabeth – were used to excavate the twin-bore tunnel.
TBM Mary Ann completed her journey in March 2024, followed by TBM Elizabeth in October 2025.
Tunnel construction
The two TBMs travelled about 40 metres underground and excavated under the Park Hall Nature Reserve, the M6 motorway, and the River Tame (which they crossed four times) before they broke through at Washwood Heath.
The material excavated and sifted at the on-site slurry treatment plant has been reused on nearby sites at the Delta Junction.
Washwood Heath depot
Sitting alongside the tunnel’s west portal at the Washwood Heath site will be the centre for HS2’s operations. HS2’s depot and Network Integrated Control Centre (NICC) will be built next to the tunnel portal. The NICC will manage the real-time control of the railway and trains will be serviced and stored there.
Email newsletters
Subscribe to our Project Update newsletter to receive the latest news and updates about HS2.