Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 22, A vertical shaft sinking machine (VSM) named Verena has begun operations on National Grid’s Grain to Tilbury electricity upgrade project in the United Kingdom. The machine, named in honour of pioneering British mechanical engineer Verena Holmes, is part of The Great Grid Upgrade initiative to modernise the country’s high-voltage transmission network.

A 15m-diameter VSM is building the TBM launch and retrieval shafts for National Grid’s new cable tunnel under the River Thames

The VSM 15000, featuring a 15-metre internal diameter, is currently excavating a 48-metre-deep launch shaft at Tilbury. Once complete, it will be relocated to Gravesend to construct the receiving shaft. A Herrenknecht mix-shield tunnel boring machine will then drive a 2.2-kilometre, 400 kV cable tunnel beneath the River Thames, replacing the ageing 1960s Thames Cable Tunnel.

Operated remotely from the surface, the VSM works in a slurry-supported environment that maintains ground stability and eliminates the need for personnel inside the shaft during sinking. This method enhances safety, accelerates construction, and reduces environmental impact compared with conventional techniques.

Ferrovial BEMO JV project director Borja Trashorras said: “This technology allows us to deliver the Grain to Tilbury project with enhanced safety, efficiency, and environmental performance. We’re proud to be working in partnership with National Grid and Herrenknecht to bring this pioneering solution to life, helping to future-proof the electricity network for generations to come.”

National Grid project director Mark Farmer said: “The launch of the vertical shaft sinking machine marks a major milestone for the project. Through collaboration and innovation, this technology is helping to deliver resilient infrastructure under the Thames, securing reliable electricity for the decades ahead.”

The Grain to Tilbury upgrade will strengthen transmission capacity across the Thames estuary, supporting increased renewable energy integration and ensuring long-term security of electricity supply in south-east England.