HS2 Bromford Tunnels Support | Tunnelling Personnel | Rorcon

Rorcon supported the delivery of the Bromford Tunnels, one of the most demanding sections of the HS2 route through the West Midlands. The project involves two 1.8-mile twin-bore tunnels driven at depths of up to forty metres by a pair of 125-metre mechanised tunnel boring machines. The tunnels pass beneath a motorway interchange, a river and a protected nature reserve, which placed significant constraints on settlement, alignment accuracy and ground stability.

Rorcon was selected to supply a core team of specialist tunnelling personnel to support the continuous tunnelling operation and associated surface works. Our workforce integrated directly with the contractor’s production teams across multiple shifts, providing consistent manpower during critical stages of the drive. The focus was on delivering reliable, technically competent crews who could operate within a high-risk environment and maintain the performance levels required for uninterrupted TBM progress.

Our teams supported activities including slurry treatment, spoil logistics, segment handling, tunnel operations support and general mechanised tunnelling duties. These are all areas where precision, communication and adherence to strict safety processes are crucial. Working on a 24-hour operation meant any lapse in quality or manpower could have jeopardised progress, so maintaining stable resourcing and disciplined performance was central to our role.