An apparatus for forming an underground tunnel, the apparatus comprising: a cutting head for removing material from an end-face of the tunnel and thereby forming a further portion of the tunnel; machinery for operating the cutting head being at least partially positioned at a location remote from the cutting head; a member coupled to the cutting head and arranged to push the cutting head against the end-face of the tunnel during removal of the material; a support structure for supporting a previously formed portion of the tunnel by providing a supporting force against a surface of the tunnel, the support structure being arranged to move along the tunnel while maintaining the supporting force during formation of the further portion of the tunnel; and a conveyor for conveying removed material to a location remote from the cutting head during formation of the further portion of the tunnel; wherein the apparatus is arranged so that the support structure, or a portion thereof, during removal of the material by the cutting head, is movable to a position immediately behind a coupling of the cutting head, without restricting movement of the cutting head in a direction that is transversal to a direction of movement of the support structure or the portion thereof, and wherein the cutting head is movable independently from the support structure and in a direction into the tunnel; characterized in that the support structure comprises a plurality of supporting parts, each supporting part being arranged to exert a supporting force and move along a surface of the tunnel in a manner such that the supporting force is maintained during movement relative to the surface of the tunnel. a cutting head for removing material from an end-face of the tunnel and thereby forming a further portion of the tunnel; machinery for operating the cutting head being at least partially positioned at a location remote from the cutting head; a member coupled to the cutting head and arranged to push the cutting head against the end-face of the tunnel during removal of the material; a support structure for supporting a previously formed portion of the tunnel by providing a supporting force against a surface of the tunnel, the support structure being arranged to move along the tunnel while maintaining the supporting force during formation of the further portion of the tunnel; and a conveyor for conveying removed material to a location remote from the cutting head during formation of the further portion of the tunnel; wherein the apparatus is arranged so that the support structure, or a portion thereof, during removal of the material by the cutting head, is movable to a position immediately behind a coupling of the cutting head, without restricting movement of the cutting head in a direction that is transversal to a direction of movement of the support structure or the portion thereof, and wherein the cutting head is movable independently from the support structure and in a direction into the tunnel; characterized in that the support structure comprises a plurality of supporting parts, each supporting part being arranged to exert a supporting force and move along a surface of the tunnel in a manner such that the supporting force is maintained during movement relative to the surface of the tunnel.