Take a look at the latest images of the major HS2 project which runs through the Northamptonshire countryside

High Speed 2 (HS2) is a major, ongoing high-speed railway project under construction in England, designed to connect London and the West Midlands, with services extending to the North West and Scotland. Phase 1 focuses on building the route between London and Handsacre (Staffordshire), aimed at increasing capacity and reducing journey times.

Originally estimated at £32bn–£50bn, costs for Phase 1 (London to Birmingham) are now forecast to exceed £60bn, with some estimates for the original project topping £100bn, causing the cancellation of northern legs.

The latest pictures from April 2026 highlight progress on the 2.5km cut-and-cover structure near Chipping Warden, where construction is ongoing on one of the longest ‘green tunnels’ on the high-speed railway.

The tunnel is designed to be covered with earth once complete, helping it blend into the surrounding countryside and reduce noise and disruption for nearby communities.

Work by HS2 Ltd and its contractor EKFB has continued since October 2025, when a section of the A361 between Banbury and Daventry was reopened after being realigned over the tunnel route.

That milestone allowed engineers to begin work on the central section of the structure, linking the two previously completed ends.

The tunnel is being assembled using precast concrete segments in a distinctive ‘M’ shape, with separate halves for northbound and southbound trains. Large sections are now visibly in place, with construction continuing in stages before the structure is eventually backfilled.

HS2 previously said productivity on site had improved significantly after early challenges, with installation rates increasing as construction methods were refined.

Despite the progress, the project has faced delays, and some elements of the civil engineering programme remain behind schedule as part of a wider reset aimed at improving efficiency and controlling costs.

At the time of the A361 reopening, Hugo Rebelo said: “We’ve had some serious challenges with the Chipping Warden green tunnel, so it’s great to see the A361 permanently diverted and a clear path ahead for the completion of the tunnel.

“The improvements we’ve made to construction processes over the last year have helped us turn a corner - but we still need to keep up the focus on productivity, while delivering the work safely and to the necessary quality.

“I’d also like to thank our neighbours for their patience during the road closure, which was necessary to complete the realignment of the road and our site teams for working so hard to get it reopened on time.”

Alexei Bond added: “The A361 road realignment marks the completion of a complex section of the overall construction works of the green tunnel. The relief road is designed to improve connectivity for Chipping Warden and commuters and ease the volume of traffic which once affected the local village.

“Although this is a welcomed milestone in the delivery programme, there is still much to do to connect the central part of the tunnel to finish the structure. Unit installation is benefitting from increased productivity on site and I’m delighted with the progress made over the past year - a testament to the team’s hard work.”

Chipping Warden is one of five ‘green tunnels’ planned along the HS2 route, with similar structures also under construction elsewhere to help reduce the railway’s impact on the landscape.