On Thursday 29 May, HS2 revealed the first section of platform to be installed for Britain’s new high-speed railway.
In the underground box at HS2’s Old Oak Common station, engineers have begun installing the platform slabs which passengers will use when boarding or alighting high-speed trains in the future.
Six platforms are being built at the super-hub station in West London for high-speed services. Each will be served by HS2’s fleet of 400-metre trains.
These are being built in advance of a further eight surface-level platforms for Great Western Mainline, Elizabeth Line, and Heathrow Express services.
All six high-speed platforms are being installed at the same time, with construction taking place from either end of the station box. They are laid out as three ‘island’ style blocks.
The platforms are the first to be unveiled anywhere on Britain’s new high-speed railway and give a glimpse of what future passengers can expect when services begin running.
To construct the platforms, 1.59-metre-high invert walls have been poured. 1,960 pre-cast concrete slabs, measuring up to 4 metres by 2 metres, are then lifted into place on top with a void below to allow installation of services.
The pre-cast concrete slabs are being made offsite by Explore Manufacturing in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, an example of how Britain’s manufacturing industry is building for the nation’s future.
A step forward
The structure of the huge 850-metre-long underground station box at Old Oak Common was completed this year, including the 45,000-square-metre base slab. The station is being constructed by HS2’s station construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA (BBVS JV).
Huw Edwards, delivery director for stations and placemaking at HS2 Ltd, said: “The installation of the first passenger platforms represents a real step forward in taking HS2 from purely a construction project to the future of Britain’s railways.
“Whilst there is still much more work to do, standing where passengers will alight HS2 services is a reminder of what this railway will achieve – creating connections between people and places, that will benefit generations to come.”
Steve O’Sullivan, Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA project director at HS2 Old Oak Common station, commented: “The installation of the first high-speed platforms at Old Oak Common marks a defining moment in the delivery of HS2. It’s a powerful symbol of progress, not just in terms of engineering, but also highlights the change in project focus from the current civil phase of the works to the building, fit-out, and the mechanical, electrical and public health phase of the works. Our teams at BBVS are proud to be laying the foundations of what will become one of the UK’s most important interchange transport hubs.”
Later this year, HS2 will begin installation of the eight platforms that will be used by conventional rail services – the Great Western, Elizabeth Line, and Heathrow Express. The BBVS JV team is also working a level above the base slab where the platform construction is taking place to construct the ground floor level of the station. From there, the superstructure of the station can be built, creating the vibrant station environment.
Tunnelling work to connect the station to the HS2 network is being undertaken by HS2’s London tunnels contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG JV. In the eastern section of the underground box, the team are preparing to launch two giant tunnelling machines towards Euston.
In the western side of the box, the team will excavate a short tunnel connecting the station to the Victoria Road Crossover Box nearby using the sprayed concrete lining method. From there the new high-speed line will run through the Northolt Tunnel.
Image credit: HS2
