HS2 today (Tuesday 24 October) unveiled the names of the next pair of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will construct the high speed rail line under the capital.

Following a public vote, the names Emily and Anne have been chosen, named after local female icons from history.

The first TBM lowered into the shaft has been named after Emily Sophia Taylor who lived between 1872 and 1956.

Emily was a midwife who provided services for women who could not afford maternity care.

She helped establish the Perivale Maternity Hospital in 1937 before becoming Ealing's first female mayor in 1938.

The second TBM's namesake is Lady Anne Byron, an educational reformer and philanthropist who lived between 1792 and 1860.

She established the Ealing Grove School in 1834 – England's first co-operative school which provided education for the working classes, in an era when it was mainly for the wealthy.

Front shield of TBM Emily lifted at Victoria Road Crossover box site (credit: HS2).

Richard Crathern, Head of Delivery for HS2 Ltd said: "We are proud that the TBMs have been given names from women with a connection to the local area who made a difference to previous generations of young people.

"This next set of TBMs will be contributing to important infrastructure for generations to come as they build Britian's new high speed railway."

The two TBMs were manufactured by world-leading experts Herrenknecht in Germany, and weigh 1,700 tonnes each. 

After being lowered underground into the launch chambers in pieces, they will be reassembled.

James Richardson, Managing Director of Skanksa Costain STRABAG joint venture, said: "The London Tunnels programme is reaching its peak delivery stage and we're excited to name our next two TBMs, Emily and Anne.

"They will join our first two TBMs, Sushila and Caroline, who are already one year into constructing the section of tunnel between West Ruislip and Victoria Road.

"We are well on the way to delivering the high speed tunnels into London. Next year we'll be assembling our final two TBMs that will tunnel between Old Oak Common and Euston."

Cutterhead of TBM Emily lowered into place (credit: HS2).

Each part of the TBM is lifted using a crane, including the 316-tonne front shield and 336-tonne middle shield.

Eight back gantries for each machine will also be lifted into place to provide all the systems required for the tunnelling operations underground.

The machines will begin the 3.4mile journey at the start of 2024, travelling under Ealing from the Victoria Road site towards Greenpark Way in Greenford, taking around one year to complete the journey.

At Greenpark Way, the machines will be disassembled and removed via another 35 metre deep shaft.

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