Transport and Logistics Network
The two tunnel boring machines that set off from just inside the M25 motorway are now three-quarters of their way under the Chilterns as they head north out of London.
At the tunnel entrance just inside the M25 motorway
The two TBMs are digging two …
HS2 today confirmed that ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’ – the two giant tunnelling machines digging HS2’s longest tunnels – have reached the Little Missenden ventilation shaft, more than three quarters of the way through their 10 mile drive under the Chilter…
Designed to reduce traffic and lower carbon emissions
HS2 Ltd has revealed its new conveyor belt designed to clear traffic in the Aylesbury Vale area.
Its spoil conveyor spoil conveyor designed to take around 70,000 lorry journeys off Buckinghamshire’s roads .
In total, the conveyor reaches 1.3km and will be placed between two construction sites on either side of the A413 and the rail line south of Wendover. It is expected to carry 550,000 cubic metres of chalk and other material over the next two years and will avoid shifting the material along the main road.
The Wendover Conveyor
HS2 has constructed two similar conveyors for its project in West London and Warwickshire.
HS2 Ltd’s project manager, Jason Bicknell, said:“HS2 will provide zero-carbon journeys from day one. “Although this conveyor is crucial in allowing us to move large quantities of material over a ‘pinch-point’ created by rail and road, it’s also a fantastic solution to avoid carbon emissions whilst being sensitive to the surrounding area of natural beauty, taking ecology and noise into consideration and ensuring we reduce impact to local residents.
Aylesbury road included in Bucks Council’s full list of works planned for next w…
“We’re reusing chalk and other material excavated south of Wendover to use in earthworks further north and this clean, quiet conveyor will dramatically improve the efficiency of that operation – taking trucks off the road and speeding up construction of this part of the UK’s new high speed railway.”
Excavators and tipper trucks at work shifting material delivered by the Wendover Conveyor
Mainly the conveyor will transport material – mainly chalk – excavated from cuttings to the south, to be reused in earthworks elsewhere on the route. It is made up of five sections.
HS2 states the conveyor has been built to reduce carbon emissions and the noise caused by its vehicles.
It was built by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor, EKFB – a team made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall.
EKFB’s Project Manager, Martin Gamble, added: “Working with our supply chain partners, Blackwell Earthmoving and Hargreaves Industrial Services, this fully enclosed, temporary conveyor will help us move a large amount of material over the A413 quickly and safely. It’s more environmentally friendly than using HGVs by road and this is reducing road disruption for our local communities.
“This conveyer is a modular design so it can be dismantled and used on other sites.”
HS2 today revealed a new spoil conveyor designed to take around 70,000 lorry journeys off Buckinghamshire’s roads and significantly reduce disruption for local residents during the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line.
The conveyor stretch…
Some businesses in Aylesbury[1] believe less customers visited their stores in recent weeks due to diversions and road closures linked to HS2[2] works.
Organisations located in the Layby Farm site in Stoke Mandeville[3] believe footfall has fallen due to traffic diversions.
Businesses are pleading with people to not forget them after road slowing measures made it harder for customers to reach the site.
Trisha Woodcock, photo from Animal News Agency
HS2 states it works hard to keep disruption to a minimum and states that all roads are reopen now.
Loss of customers was linked to the works on Nash Lee Road and the closure in south Wendover on the A413.
Amongst the business leaders that use the site in Stoke Mandeville is Ruth Higgins who owns Bucks Goat Centre, she believes customers might have missed the turn onto their tourism venue due to nearby works obstructing road signs.
She said: “We are still open as normal, and the animals are happy and unaffected by the works, but the road diversions and closures are a problem. We are appealing to visitors not to forget about us, we are still just the same as ever and are looking forward to a fun summer of activities for families.”While you are on site the HS2 works are not an issue and we are the same as ever, it is just getting here which seems to be a problem, and I think we are now less visible from the road.”
One of the famed animals at Bucks Goat Centre, photo from Animal News Agency
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To limit disruption HS2 attempts to schedule works overnight, but the A413 was closed for an entire weekend to complete excavation work ahead of a realignment project.
Works on Nash Lee Road was linked to setting up diversion routes which will allow roads to remain connected while the rail project continues.
Bucks Council kept the road closed for a week after the rail project finished its construction to conduct surfacing works.
Trisha Woodcock has run the Obsidian Art Gallery on Layby Farm for 21 years.
To help encourage people to visit, Trish has organised a special Arts and Culture Festival, which will be held on July 29.
Trisha said: “We have definitely noticed a drop in footfall and it is increasing week on week.”That’s why we have organised the festival at the end of the month, to encourage people to come back to the site, and then they will realise again how much we have to offer.”
HS2 works in the area got off to a bad start in 2020, when contractors Fusion[5] entered the Goat Centre site in error and started cutting down hedgerows, in an area containing a memorial bench dedicated to the farm’s founder.Ruth added: “It has been a hard road and we have had next to no support from HS2 throughout the process. But we are open, everyone is here and ready to receive visitors, so please support us as we battle on.”
A HS2 spokesman said: “We are working hard to keep road closures to a minimum and reduce disruption for residents during the construction of the railway. Access for Layby Farm has been maintained throughout our recent works and all local roads are now open.”