HS2 Suspends London Tunnel Works for Safety Review After Site Incident

All construction activities on the London tunnels section of the HS2 high-speed rail project have been temporarily suspended following a site safety incident.

The Skanska Costain STRABAG (SCS) joint venture, responsible for delivering this phase of the project, has paused operations while conducting a comprehensive safety review after the near-miss incident on September 29.

According to reports from The Telegraph, the incident occurred at the Green Park Way ventilation shaft in west London, where a gantry crane was being dismantled. A steel beam reportedly swung dangerously across a tunnel ventilation shaft, narrowly missing two workers who were on site at the time.

While no injuries were reported, the event prompted immediate action to ensure worker safety across the project.

Four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are currently in the process of being dismantled and removed from the London tunnels as part of ongoing construction works. These operations have also been put on hold pending the outcome of the review.

HS2 Chief Executive Officer Mark Wild emphasized the project's commitment to safety, stating:

“Safety is our number one priority at HS2. Due to a serious incident, works have been safely halted across the London tunnels section of the route.While no workers were physically harmed, our contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture, is undertaking a comprehensive review of safety procedures and leadership on their sites before a safe restart can take place.”

The SCS joint venture is expected to carry out a thorough assessment of site operations, leadership practices, and safety protocols before any resumption of work is permitted.