HS2’s massive Tunnel Boring Machines, (TBMs), continue to rip into stunning English countryside as more concrete is poured into the ground.

The £100billion high-speed network’s latest phase tore two enormous holes for 10 miles under the much-loved Chilterns near the picturesque village of West Hyde in Hertfordshire.

Aerial pictures showed the devastation caused by the 557ft TBMs – called Cecilia after astronomer Payne-Gaposchkin and Florence after nurse Nightingale – as acres of greenery were turned into a building site.

Furious campaigners argued that HS2 – which will run from London to Birmingham – poses a ‘grave threat to the UK’s ancient forests, with 108 at-risk of loss or damage’.

The firm countered that only 0.29 km (0.11 mi) of ancient woodland would be lost during the initial phase.

Meanwhile the rail industry is bracing for a downsizing of a major section of HS2 due to the project’s ballooning price tag amid the economic impact of the pandemic. 

HS2's huge Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) have continued to rip through stunning English countryside as they plough yet more concrete into the earth

HS2’s enormous Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), continue to rip through the stunning English countryside, as they pour more concrete into it

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? The £100billion high-speed network's latest phase tore enormous holes for 10 miles under the much-loved Chilterns near the village of West Hyde in Hertfordshire

Is there light at its end? The £100billion high-speed network’s latest phase tore enormous holes for 10 miles under the much-loved Chilterns near the village of West Hyde in Hertfordshire

A member of the HS2 team pauses on a stretch of the tunnel as he walks towards the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named Cecilia, after astronomer and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, yesterday

As he walks towards Cecilia (the Tunnel Boring Machine) Cecilia, a member the HS2 team pauses at a stretch of tunnel as he looks back at the astrophysicist Cecilia Payne Gaposchkin.

A dramatic photograph shows the tunnel leading up to the monster Tunnel Boring Machine being used to dig for HS2. The rail industry is bracing for a downsizing of a major section of HS2, together with the project's ballooning price tag - especially after the economic harm of the pandemic

Dramatic photograph of the tunnel leading to the Tunnel Boring Machine used to dig for High Speed 2. The rail industry is preparing for a reduction in the size of HS2 and the project’s rising cost, especially after the economic damage caused by the pandemic.

The high-speed rail line has recently come under fire from critics who have questioned whether the project is worth its ballooning price tag

Recent criticisms have raised concerns about the high-speed rail project, raising questions about its value.

Aerial pictures showed the devastation caused by the 557ft TBMs as acres of greenery was turned into a building site with stacks of metal and stone piled up in front of two vast burrows

Aerial photographs showed the destruction caused the 557ft TBMs. Grasslands of greenery were transformed into a building site, with stacks made of metal and stone stacked up in front of two huge burrows.

Furious campaigners argued HS2 - which will run between London and Birmingham - poses 'a grave threat to the UK's ancient woods, with 108 at risk of loss or damage'. Pictured: The tunnel entrances near West Hyde

Furious campaigners claimed that HS2 – which will connect London and Birmingham – poses a ‘grave threat to the UK’s ancient forests, with 108 at-risk of loss or damage’. Pictured: The tunnel entrances at West Hyde

HS2 blasted back at campaigners saying that only 0.29 square kilometres (0.11 square miles) of ancient woodland will be lost during the first phase. It comes after Tory backbencher Andrew Bridgen told the Commons the project will be 'loss-making' and won't be completed before 2041 - around 10 years later than planned

Campaigners were slammed by HS2, who claimed that 0.29 kilometres (0.11 miles) of ancient forest would be lost in the first phase. Andrew Bridgen, Tory backbencher and author of the Commons’ statement that HS2 would be a ‘loss-making project’ and wouldn’t be completed before 2041, around 10 years later than originally planned, made the announcement.

Ten 170 metre-long tunnel boring machines, which weigh up to 2,200 tonnes, will work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to bore and line the tunnels, covering around 15 metres per day. The tunnel boring machine will head south towards London to begin digging the tunnel, while a second tunnel will also be dug to create the twin bore tunnel. Each of the two tunnels will take around five months to dig. Pictured: A construction worker near concrete tunnel lining ring segments

Ten 170-metre-long tunnel boring machines that weigh up to 2,200t will work around the clock to bore and line tunnels. They can cover about 15 metres per day. The tunnel boring machine will move south towards London to start digging the tunnel. To create the twin bore tunnel, a second tunnel must also be dug. Each tunnel will take about five months to dig. Pictured: Construction worker near concrete tunnel lining segments

The final stage will see a 'green tunnel' built, where a soil 'roof' is constructed around the tunnel entrance to integrate it within the natural landscape, according to HS2's website. Pictured: A huge crane at the site to lift the concrete slabs

According to HS2’s website, the final stage will include a ‘green tunnel’. This is where a soil roof’ is built around the tunnel entrance in order to integrate it into the natural landscape. Pictured: A crane is used to lift concrete slabs.

A construction worker is pictured laying the concrete floor along a stretch of the HS2 tunnel yesterday. Work suspensions, social distancing and reduced productivity over the past 12 months saw HS2's costs soar by another £1.7bn in September - with the project's estimated overall budget now swelling over £106billion

Yesterday, a construction worker laid the concrete floor along a stretch that runs through the HS2 Tunnel. Work suspensions, social distancing and reduced productivity over the past 12 months saw HS2’s costs soar by another £1.7bn in September – with the project’s estimated overall budget now swelling over £106billion

Pictured: The huge tunnel entrances near West Hyde yesterday. Meanwhile, Northern leaders and the rail industry are braced for a downsizing of the a major section of the HS2 in a report expected to be published during or after the Cop26 summit

Pictured: The massive tunnel entrances in West Hyde yesterday. The rail industry and Northern leaders are preparing for a reduction in the size of a large section of the HS2 as part of a report due to be published at or after the Cop26 summit

A construction worker gives an idea of the scale of the cranes and concrete slabs being used to line the tunnel as he directs the operator yesterday. The high-speed rail linking Birmingham and Leeds, also known as the 'eastern leg', is no longer expected to be laid in full. It means HS2 trains will run at slower speeds on existing track for as much as 60 miles of the distance between the two cities

Yesterday, a construction worker shows the operator how large the concrete slabs and cranes are used to line the tunnel. It is not expected that the high-speed rail linking Birmingham to Leeds, also known by the ‘eastern legs’, will be fully laid. This means that HS2 trains will travel at slower speeds on existing tracks for up to 60 miles between the two cities.

Pictured: A member of the HS2 team speaks with a colleague as he walks along a stretch of the tunnel beneath the Chilterns yesterday. Journey times could take about an hour rather than 40 minutes, according to sources familiar with plans being considered by ministers. However, a compromise is said to have been struck following pressure from pro-HS2 northern leaders which could still see around 80 miles of high-speed track laid

Pictured: A member the HS2 team talks with a colleague while he walks along a section of the tunnel below the Chilterns yesterday. According to sources familiar, the journey time could be up to an hour rather than 40 minutes. A compromise was reached after pressure from northern leaders pro-HS2 who could still see 80 miles of high speed track laid.

Pictured: A view of a working area within the HS2 Tunnel Boring Machine. HS2 will link London to Birmingham in phase one before forking into two sections. The western leg connecting Birmingham with Manchester is expected to go ahead

Pictured: A view from the HS2 Tunnel Boring Machine. HS2 will link London and Birmingham in phase 1, before splitting into two sections. The western leg linking Birmingham and Manchester is expected to proceed

A member of the HS2 team holds a pack of emergency rations as he stands within an emergency refuge shelter onboard the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named Cecilia yesterday

As he stands in an emergency shelter onboard the Tunnel Boring Machine, Cecilia, yesterday, a member of the HS2 Team holds a bag of emergency rations.

The pilot gestures to her monitor screens as she discusses her role on the HS2 Tunnel Boring Machine yesterday. The Integrated Rail Plan is set to be published around mid-November after being delayed since January

As she talks about her role in the HS2 Tunnel Boring Machine yesterday, the pilot gestures to her monitor screens. After being delayed from January, the Integrated Rail Plan is due to be published around mid November.

Pictured: A view of the rear of the cutterhead at the front of the TBM. Phase 1 of HS2 was due to open in 2026, but in an update to Parliament in 2019, Transport Sinister Grant Shapps said the opening date would be pushed back to between 2028 and 2031

Pictured: A view looking back at the cutterhead in front of the TBM. Phase 1 of HS2 was scheduled to open in 2026. However, Transport Sinister Grant Shapps updated Parliament in 2019 to say that the opening date for Phase 2 would be delayed to 2028 or 2031.

A vehicle carries a load of concrete tunnel lining ring segments, which weigh an average 8.5 tonnes each, into one of two tunnels at the HS2 south portal site yesterday. In the HS2 six-monthly report to Parliament in March 2021, the DfT said the projected 'delivery into service' date range is between 2029 and 2033

A vehicle transports concrete tunnel lining segments weighing an average of 8.5 tonnes each to one of the two tunnels at HS2 south portal site. The DfT reported in March 2021 that the HS2 six-monthly HS2 report to Parliament stated that the expected ‘delivery into services’ date range is between 2029-2033.

A service vehicle pauses to drop off passengers on a stretch of the HS2 tunnel beneath the Chilterns yesterday. One contractor close to the project said that HS2 Ltd, the state-funded body responsible for delivering the line, 'doesn't really know how much Covid has added'. HS2 Ltd declined to comment when approached by MailOnline

Yesterday, a service vehicle stopped to drop off passengers at a section of the HS2 tunnel below the Chilterns. One contractor familiar with the project stated that HS2 Ltd, a state-funded entity responsible for delivering it, ‘doesn’t really understand how much Covid has been added’. MailOnline reached out to HS2 Ltd for comment.

A view of the rear of the cutterhead at the front of the HS2 Tunnel Boring Machine. Construction started on Phase 1 of the London to Birmingham line in August last year after more than a decade of planning. But the ballooning costs could add to Treasury fears that HS2 will be a black hole for taxpayers

A view of HS2 Tunnel Boring Machine’s cutterhead. After more than a decade planning, Phase 1 construction started in August 2012. However, Treasury fears that HS2 could be a tax-paying black hole due to its ballooning costs.

Pictured: The tunnel wall including the semi-rigid air input tube (top) and slurry flow pipes are seen on a stretch of the HS2 tunnel beneath the Chilterns yesterday

Pictured: Yesterday’s section of the HS2 tunnel under the Chilterns shows the tunnel wall, including the semi-rigid slurry flow pipes and the air input tube (top).

A member of the HS2 team looks back along a stretch of the tunnel from onboard the Tunnel Boring Machine. The Department for Transport previously conceded to MailOnline that there had been 'unavoidable costs' arising from the Covid pandemic

A member of HS2’s team looks back from the Tunnel Boring Machine as he travels along a section. MailOnline previously learned that the Covid pandemic had led to ‘unavoidable expenses’ from the Department of Transport.

Pictured: A view from within the HS2 Tunnel Boring Machine highlights the scale of the project. HS2 said it the high-speed line will reduce journey times between London and northern England and add capacity to Britain's crowded rail network

Pictured: The HS2 Tunnel Boring Machine shows the enormity of the project. HS2 stated that the high-speed line would reduce travel times between London and northern England, and increase capacity for Britain’s already crowded rail network.

A crane lifts concrete tunnel lining ring segments, which weigh an average 8.5 tonnes each, in a storage area at the HS2 south portal site yesterday. 112,000 of these concrete segments will be required to be installed by the Tunnel Boring Machines to complete both tunnels

Yesterday, a crane lifted concrete tunnel lining segments weighing an average of 8.5 tonnes each into a storage area at the site of HS2 South Portal. Tunnel Boring Machines will require 112,000 of these concrete segments to complete the tunnels.

Pictured: The tunnel entrances on Wednesday. Critics have questioned whether the rail line is worth its ballooning price tag, especially after a pandemic that might permanently change people's travel habits

Pictured: Wednesday’s tunnel entrances. Critics have doubted whether the rail line’s ballooning price tag is worth it, especially after a pandemic that could permanently change peoples’ travel habits.

HS2 costs soared another £1.7BILLION in past year due to Covid with total budget swelling to £106bn 

The cost of the controversial HS2 high-speed rail project has increased by a further £1.7billion over the past year due to social distancing measures and work suspensions caused by the pandemic.

Coronavirus and lockdown restrictions, first imposed in March 2013, disrupted work at most of HS2 sites. This has caused further delays that have added to the UK’s largest infrastructure project.

Industry experts have reported similar pressures on projects ranging from Crossrail to the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel to the Tideway Tunnel and the Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor in Somerset.

As a result of work suspensions, social distancing measures, and reduced productivity over this year, costs have soared by around £1.7billion – another increase on the project’s estimated £106billion budget.

Opposition to the project is growing. Local anger contributed to the Tory defeat in Chesham/Amersham. The Buckinghamshire constituency is expected to be the route of the new line. 

Tunnelling work is due to begin in Long Itchington Wood (pictured), Warwickshire, as part of phase one of the HS2 high-speed rail line, which will run between Birmingham and London

Tunnelling work will begin in Long Itchington Wood, Warwickshire, as part phase one of HS2’s high-speed rail line. It will run from Birmingham to London.

The costs associated with Phase 1 of the line between London and Birmingham have increased by as much as £800million, people close to the project told the FT. 

That increase follows an £800million rise announced by HS2 in October, including money spent on remediating the terminus site at Euston in London. 

The price of the Birmingham Interchange station also rose by £100million to £370million even before contractors have been appointed.  

One contractor familiar with the project stated that HS2 Ltd, a state-funded entity responsible for delivering it, ‘doesn’t really understand how much Covid has been added’. MailOnline reached out for comments to HS2 Ltd but they declined to comment.  

After more than a decade planning, Phase 1 construction began in August 2013. However, Treasury fears that HS2 could be a tax-paying black hole due to its rising costs. 

MailOnline was informed that the Department for Transport had admitted to MailOnline that there had not been. The coronavirus epidemic has led to ‘unavoidable cost’.