en.Wedoany.com Reported - A specialist manufacturing facility in Bolton has completed the first cross-passage doors for the high-speed rail project HS2, marking a significant milestone in the production of safety-critical tunnel doors for the project.
Booth Industries, the company responsible for the manufacturing operation, will produce 300 cross-passage doors for the HS2 high-speed railway. These products support over 130 jobs in the Northwest region and contribute to one of the UK's largest infrastructure projects. The specialist factory, opened in 2021, covers 600 square meters and is located adjacent to the company's main manufacturing facility in Bolton. It was designed to increase capacity and introduce higher levels of automation, specifically to support the volume production of highly engineered safety systems.
Cross-passage doors are a critical component of HS2's tunnel infrastructure. Installed between the northbound and southbound tunnels, these doors provide emergency escape routes and ensure the safe operation of the railway. The doors are engineered to withstand the immense pressure fluctuations generated by high-speed trains passing through the tunnels, as well as extreme temperatures in the event of a fire. Each door weighs approximately 600 kilograms and is equipped with a carefully balanced counterweight system, allowing for rapid opening and closing in an emergency.
Before production commenced, the design underwent extensive fire resistance and fatigue testing to verify its performance under operating conditions. The design process incorporated lessons learned from previous tunnel projects, aiming to create a more standardized solution to support efficient manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. HS2 includes five twin-bore deep tunnels between London and the West Midlands, totaling over 27 miles in length; the longest of these, the Chiltern Tunnel, is approximately 10 miles long. The railway also includes five cut-and-cover tunnels, totaling over 5 miles. Emergency access is provided within the tunnels, with cross-passages connecting the two tunnel bores via safety doors at each end. A successful trial installation has been carried out in the Chiltern Tunnel, providing valuable experience for wider deployment across the network.
Booth Industries will also manufacture additional safety doors for Old Oak Common station and other tunnel-related assets along the route. Qasir Raza stated that the completion of the first production door is a significant milestone, as the project transitions from large-scale civil engineering to the installation of railway systems and operational infrastructure. Mike Jenkinson noted that the contract builds on the company's 150-year engineering heritage while supporting investment in skills, manufacturing capabilities, and future growth opportunities in the region. The HS2 project continues to progress along the route between London and Birmingham as the installation of critical railway systems accelerates.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
