“It’s not every day you swap a train cab for the controls of a tunnelling machine”

27 March 2026

Named after Karen Harrison - one of the first ever female train drivers - High Speed 2’s last Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) has begun its journey from Old Oak Common to London Euston. Two female Avanti West Coast drivers, Hayley Richardson and Vicky Knight, were invited to mark this milestone.

The opportunity for Hayley and Vicky to be a part of HS2’s tribute to trailblazer, Karen Harrison, was a special moment for the Euston-based drivers.

It follows a campaign by Avanti West Coast to break down barriers for women entering the rail industry, which saw a giant mural of Karen painted by renowned street artist, Akse, at London Euston.  

Hayley, has been a driver at Avanti West Coast for around six years  and is trained on both the operator’s Pendolino and Evero fleets. Speaking of her visit to Old Oak Common, she said: “I didn’t know what to expect when walking into the HS2 construction site but being in the area where the work is happening and seeing it all in person felt like such a privilege. It’s not every day you swap a train cab for the controls of a tunnelling machine.  It was interesting to hear about all the system monitoring and planning that goes into keeping it on track.

“I was really taken aback by the attention to detail of their set up and the magnitude of their work. You hear a lot about HS2 in the news, and I’ve seen pictures online, but to be there, and see it being built first-hand was just a fantastic experience – one that I am so grateful for.

“It’s incredible to think we only saw just part of the wider construction programme that stretches from London to Birmingham – including more tunnels, bridges, viaducts and stations.

“Naming the machine after Karen Harrison is a nice touch from HS2, as her story is extremely inspiring. Karen broke down a lot of barriers when she became one of the first female train drivers. She paved the way for future generations, including Vicky and I - to do what we enjoy as a career, and that is drive trains.”

"When the new high-speed line opens through to Euston, it will certainly be a nice moment to remember"

Vicky, who has driven Avanti West Coast’s trains for over three and half years, loves seeing the sights of the country at 125mph. Reflecting on being involved in the launch of HS2’s TBM, she said:

 “Climbing onboard the tunnel boring machine was quite surreal – it literally is a moving factory. It was fascinating to stand in the control room learning about how to drive the machine, especially with all the things they must monitor like ground pressure, speed and angles of boring.

“There aren’t many people who get to say they have been onboard a tunnel boring machine, let alone behind the controls. I even got to use the part of the machine which moves the concrete segments of the tunnel wall into place, which was a lot of fun!

“I’m so grateful to HS2 for this opportunity, and when the new high-speed line opens through to Euston, it will certainly be a nice moment to remember.

“I regularly see the Karen Harrison mural at Euston, which is a poignant reminder of the difference she made in rail. For me and Hayley to launch HS2’s tunnelling machine, which honours Karen, is a proud moment – especially with it being a significant milestone for rail and its high-speed future.”