Students from John Colet School name mini Tunnel Boring Machine

A group of year seven students from John Colet School in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, were invited down to our Small Dean Lane compound, in the North Chilterns area, to reveal their chosen name for the mini tunnel boring machine (TBM) - Hannah.

‘Hannah’ will be launched at our Grove Farm Culvert site, just situated outside of Wendover. With a diameter of 2.44 meters, she will be carefully lowered 11 meters deep into a shaft before commencing her first drive of 350 meters, following a second drive of 450 meters. Below ground, she will begin to excavate and line two tunnels with pre-cast segmental lining at a speed of around 4 metres per day.

The two tunnels will provide drainage for not only the HS2 railway line track bed but will reduce the risk of flooding to the local area either side of the tracks.

For the students, this unique opportunity allowed them to witness their named TBM before its launch, meet our engineers working within the machine, and learn more about how TBM’s operate underground.

Since Buckinghamshire is the birthplace of the Paralympics, Hannah Cockroft, nine-time Paralympic Champion, was pleased to hear that the students at John Colet School wanted to honour her with a TBM being named after her.

Provided with pens, not only did the students get to see their artwork printed onto the TBM, but they were also able to write messages of good will and good luck to our operatives before they descend on their journey underground.

In keeping with traditions, Father John, a priest based in Aylesbury, carried out the blessings of the TBM alongside the statue of St Barbara, as well to our teams before they commenced their first drive. This practice is believed to date back to the earliest mining traditions.

The nine-time Paralympic Champion, Hannah Cockroft said: “I just want to say a massive thank you to John Colet School for choosing me as the name for the tunnel boring machine. It’s a very random honour, but I feel highly privileged to be chosen – thank you!”

‘Hannah’ is one of three named tunnel boring machines being launched by Active Tunnelling on behalf of EKFB – a joint venture made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction, and Bam Nuttall. Commencing her drive this month, ‘Hannah’ is expected to complete 800 meters of tunnelling for HS2 before signalling the end of her drive in the summer.