The Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), today known as "High Speed One", connects London with the portal of the Eurotunnel. The building of the high speed rail link is the first major new railway construction project in Great Britain for a hundred years. Two parallel tunnels had to be bored under the Thames to the east of London. It became clear at the planning stage that varying geological conditions could be expected, which were also likely to lead to a high degree of cutter wear. Under the tight time scale for completion of the project, both tunnels are to come into service in 2007.

The Herrenknecht Mixshield S-192 is tunnelling under the Thames at a maximum speed of nearly 140 meters per week. One of the factors that make this high tunnelling performance possible, is the integrated cutter wear detection system. This makes it possible to monitor the degree of wear of the cutters and to effectively plan when cutter changes are necessary.

The overall length of the project has been shortened by using an approach that is simple in theory, but complex in practice: after the S-192 has made its breakthrough, its trailer is detached and reattached to the sister machine S-204, while the S-192 is still being dismantled. The British Tunnelling Society recognized the outstanding teamwork shown by the construction team of lot 320 by presenting them with the "Major Project Award".

High Speed One (Channel Tunnel Rail Link)