HS2 London Tunnels

Tunnelling and Underground Works Design and Engineering Specialist Labour Ground Improvement and Enabling Works
Sector:
Transport
Client:
SCS JV and HS2
Location:
London

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Project Description

Joseph Gallagher has assisted with supplying specialist labour for the construction of:

  • Canterbury road Vent Shaft
  • Westgate Vent Shaft
  • Green Park Way Vent Shaft
  • West Ruislip to Green Park Way Twin Bore TBM drive (NTW)

The HS2 London Tunnels programme delivered by SCS JV includes an 8km twin bore TBM tunnel drive from West Ruislip to Green Park, forming the western approach tunnels into central London. The twin-bore tunnel crosses numerous deep ventilation shafts with numerous cross passages which demand complex planning, logistics, and continuous 24/7 tunnelling operations. Joseph Gallagher provided specialist labour for TBM operations running continuously across the full tunnelling cycle.

Joseph Gallagher provided and managed up to 700+ operatives working 24/7 across various sites with 560 working at West Ruislip TBM drive site alone. JGL supported all shaft activities including platform management, logistics, operations, and tunnelling support crews. Maintained strong safety performance in line with HS2’s industry-leading standards. Delivered a flexible labour solution, ensuring SCS had the required skills onsite during peak tunnelling phases.

Scope of Works Delivered by Joseph Gallagher Ltd

Joseph Gallagher supplied skilled tunnelling personnel to assist the SCS JV across:

  • West Ruislip to Green Park
  • Green Park Vent Shaft
  • Westgate Vent Shaft
  • Canterbury Road Vent Shaft
  • Pit Bosses
  • TBM Operators
  • Leading Miners
  • Erector Operators
  • Miner / Ring Builders
  • Mechanical and Electrical Supervisors
  • TBM and Conveyor Fitters
  • Welder / Fabricators
  • TBM support crews
  • Logistics Foreman
  • MSV/ PSV operators
  • Full spectrum of multi skilled plant operators
  • SCL cross passage teams (Nozzleman / Face Drivers / Pump Operators formal term)
  • Engineering teams

JGL supported on three shaft sites and specialist TBM/shaft workforce

Across all shafts, Joseph Gallagher provided 24/7 shift coverage and assisted in shaft construction from the collar to shaft construction down to base slab and construction of the SCL adits.

Joseph Gallagher fully managed all labour provided to SCS and ensured performance and production were managed whilst bringing a workforce embedded into our award winning behavioural safety programme LIFE ( Living Incident Free Every Day).  Joseph Gallagher also assisted the clients own behavioural safety programme and enabled internal trainers and managers to deliver this within the workforce seamlessly.

Joseph Gallagher is a company that not only can provide leading tunnelling labour but we also has a strong core of long term employees who can be moved across our own contracted works outside of the project to ensure any unplanned labour requirements were met. Reserve crews and multi-skilled operatives ensured SCS could adapt quickly to changing production rates or mechanical downtime.

Joseph Gallagher’s crews supported the SCS JV in maintaining steady TBM advance rates across both tunnels, managing their own and the clients direct labour teams` holidays, contributing to successful progress toward key programme milestones. Joseph Gallagher supported the production and planning of the works, assisting where required, by leading weekly on site labour and forecasting meetings, setting up weekly safety and supervisor meetings. The ability to shift labour resources between the TBM drive and the three vent shafts ensured programme resilience and reduced downtime risk.

Joseph Gallagher played a key supporting role in the successful tunnelling and shaft operations on the HS2 London Tunnels from West Ruislip to Green Park. By delivering a skilled, flexible and safety-driven workforce, JGL helped SCS JV maintain consistent progress on one of the UK’s most complex modern tunnelling operations. This package reinforced Joseph Gallagher’s reputation as a leading specialist tunnelling subcontractor in the UK, capable of supporting large-scale mechanised tunnelling and shaft construction across multiple interfaces.

JGL at London West Ruislip
JGL at HS2s London TBMs placing a tunnel segment
JGL at HS2s London tunnel
JGL at London Underground
JGL at London Underground

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