HS2 Progress near Kenilworth

[swt_passenger]

This is not the worst example. Some sort of tunnel would be needed here, but I agree that it could probably be shorter.

In regards of "pointlessness" nothing beats Chipping Warder Green Tunnel...

That’s to avoid having a relatively deep cutting, at about 45-50m deep, which at modern standards would require about a 200m wide void in the existing hill. I think it’s a reasonable decision compared to leaving it fully open.