HS2 completes Old Oak Common excavation

HS2 has completed the excavation of the Old Oak Common station underground box.

Construction of HS2’s new super-hub station in West London has moved into a new phase after three years of excavation.

Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA joint venture (BBVS JV), working with their specialist structures contractor Expanded, partnered with HS2’s Station Construction to deliver the job.

Workers completed the excavation of the structure, big enough to accommodate the equivalent of 300 Olympic sized swimming pools (930,000m3), where high speed trains will stop.

The underground box has a 1.12 mile fibre-reinforced concrete diaphragm wall around it with 1.3 million tonnes of London Clay removed from inside.

The 2,000-strong team completed the excavation section by section, starting from the west and east of the structure, meeting in the middle.

Workers also used 32,000 tonnes of steel rebar in the box and 160 reinforced concrete columns installed inside the outer wall to help support the structure.

With the box fully excavated, the team will next work to pour the final sections of base slab to fully complete the box.

The station is set to have 14 platforms in total, within the 850 metre-long station box, with a further eight platforms built to serve conventional rail services.

Excavation work on the station began in June 2021 with work on the entire station and surrounding railway set to finish between 2029 and 2033.

Old Oak Common Station received an investment of £1.67 billion.

The east end of the underground box has now been handed over to HS2’s London Tunnels contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG (SCS JV), who are preparing to construct HS2’s running tunnel to Euston.

In April last year, it was confirmed that work on the tunnel between Euston and Old Oak Common would not start until 2024, amid a slew of HS2 delays including the Birmingham to Crewe section by two years.

Sam Clark, head of delivery for HS2 Ltd, said: “The tremendous progress made by our construction team to complete the excavation of the box is an exciting milestone for the project as it signals the next phase of construction where high speed platforms will be built, as well as the station building itself.  

“HS2’s Old Oak Common station will be transformational for local and regional connectivity and attract huge investment, development and regeneration to the surrounding area.”

Steve O’Sullivan, project director, Balfour Beatty VINCI SYTRA joint venture, said: “The progress here at Old Oak Common moves us one step closer to completing this key transport hub, which will enhance connectivity and drive regeneration in the area. We are excited to move forward to the next phase of construction and continue delivering this transformative project.”

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