HS2 Euston - Development, design and construction news (not speculation, please)

[InTheEastMids]

https://x.com/philatrail/status/1869706821054935277

Would the suggestion of building six platforms wide enough to accommodate another four or five in future be feasible?

Also supports something interesting on ianvisits.co.uk which covers a lot of issues relating to transport in London (linked below), which as it relates to Hendy's "6 platforms" statement to parliament says:

The confusion arises from the reply’s lack of caveats about possible future changes to the plans. As a response from a Minister, it has to stick to the official government policy that the station will be built with six platforms, but at the same time, it’s known that the station plans are being reviewed."

(as Phil Haig's tweet goes on to say).

Euston Station’s uncertain future: Six HS2 platforms or more?

More confusion has emerged over the size of Euston station's HS2 upgrade after the Rail Minister repeated the current policy that the station will be built with just six platforms.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

Clearly even well-informed people are trying to infer a lot by reading quite a small number of tea-leaves.

Also happened to spy this photo taken from (probably) over the South end of Mornington Crescent, looking South. Work on the throat of the HS2 stations is a lot more advanced then you'd think from looking at Google Maps.

x.com

x.com

Although Sunak "Paused" work on Euston in 2023 it seems #HS2 has been doing everything within the "safe stop" remit to build as much as possible. I'm hoping they've done enough to 'lock in' the grade separated approach.

 

[Northerngirl]

Would it be possible to use the existing platforms if they need occasional additional capacity or is there too much of a height difference to connect the lines

 

[The Planner]

Would it be possible to use the existing platforms if they need occasional additional capacity or is there too much of a height difference to connect the lines

Completely seperate railways.

 

[Northerngirl]

Completely seperate railways.

And this is exactly why everything is impossible in this country, they are the same railway north of Birmingham, but in london it's a different department so not my problem

 

[Palmerston]

And this is exactly why everything is impossible in this country, they are the same railway north of Birmingham, but in london it's a different department so not my problem

I'm not one of the experts, but I think The Planner was saying the lines have no crossover i.e. no platform would have a link to both HS2 and WCML.

Incidentally, given there is debate about 6 or 10 platforms, is there a reason 8 never gets suggested?

 

[chris2]

I'm not one of the experts, but I think The Planner was saying the lines have no crossover i.e. no platform would have a link to both HS2 and WCML.

Incidentally, given there is debate about 6 or 10 platforms, is there a reason 8 never gets suggested?

Not sure to be honest.

I think the main reason 6 is a popular number in this discussion is because this is the number you could fit in the space adjacent to the existing station where the land has been cleared. If you were going to add new platforms to Euston and didn't want to meddle with the current building, this is the number you'd end up building. Even Sunak in his wisdom seemed to have conceded HS2 wouldn't really work with less than six although I don't think he ever said where he'd put them.

If you were to build 10 or 11 platforms for HS2, you wouldn't be able to do this without first hacking away at the existing building; taking existing platforms out of action, demolishing them and rebuilding them at a lower elevation and incorporating them into the HS2 lines. The previous 10 platform design ate up the current platform 16 and the two Middle Sidings in between there and platform 15. So, building anything more than 6 would have to involve demolition of part of the existing station and maybe it's then about the cost effectiveness of doing this and what services you can then run via each set of lines.

If you give too many platforms to HS2 before the line is extensive enough, you end up taking away valuable capacity from the classic line. But as HS2 becomes more extensive via upgrades and extensions, you would obviously see a shift in where you need the platform capacity.

In this sense, I feel that the right solution for Euston is one where the six platforms are built adjacent to Euston, giving a footprint capable of housing a total of 22 platforms and the "middle" part of the station has a design that is able to be reconfigured to provide more capacity for HS2 in future. It wouldn't necessarily be right to provide 10 or 11 HS2 platforms straight away, if HS2 can't make use of them, but if the new whole-station design does not allow for future reconfiguration of these middle platforms that would be really short-sighted.

 

[Meerkat]

In this sense, I feel that the right solution for Euston is one where the six platforms are built adjacent to Euston, giving a footprint capable of housing a total of 22 platforms and the "middle" part of the station has a design that is able to be reconfigured to provide more capacity for HS2 in future. It wouldn't necessarily be right to provide 10 or 11 HS2 platforms straight away, if HS2 can't make use of them, but if the new whole-station design does not allow for future reconfiguration of these middle platforms that would be really short-sighted.

Nice concept but how would you do it, build an HS2 level base slab and then a WCML 'floor' above that could be demolished later, without any important services plant in the gap?

 

[takno]

Nice concept but how would you do it, build an HS2 level base slab and then a WCML 'floor' above that could be demolished later, without any important services plant in the gap?

Personally I'd build the HS2 station, and then as soon as those services are up and taking traffic I'd reduce the West Coast service, close and rebuild platforms 1-4, then the middle platforms, and then aim to finish by rebuilding the higher platforms as HS2 platforms. The last stage probably gives you enough capacity that you can start to extend the west coast service again.

There isn't much point doing a lot of fancy two level structure for the sake of having 2 West Coast platforms for a bit, not when at least 4 trains an hour of traffic has likely already moved over to HS2 trains

 

[Meerkat]

Personally I'd build the HS2 station, and then as soon as those services are up and taking traffic I'd reduce the West Coast service, close and rebuild platforms 1-4, then the middle platforms, and then aim to finish by rebuilding the higher platforms as HS2 platforms. The last stage probably gives you enough capacity that you can start to extend the west coast service again.

There isn't much point doing a lot of fancy two level structure for the sake of having 2 West Coast platforms for a bit, not when at least 4 trains an hour of traffic has likely already moved over to HS2 trains

Rebuilding classic Euston in stages sounds very expensive, if its even possible to take the roof of like that, and segregate utilities etc. Also your plan would leave the middle of the site to last - which would create some challenging access issues. If anything you would want to start from the cleared HS2 site where you have space for working.

 

[The Planner]

Rebuilding classic Euston in stages sounds very expensive, if its even possible to take the roof of like that, and segregate utilities etc. Also your plan would leave the middle of the site to last - which would create some challenging access issues. If anything you would want to start from the cleared HS2 site where you have space for working.

There is no way you could do the classic side as an empty worksite as there is no way you can cut the services. You will likely end up going high side to low as you ideally want line X in use for as long as possible.

 

[alf]

There is no way you could do the classic side as an empty worksite as there is no way you can cut the services. You will likely end up going high side to low as you ideally want line X in use for as long as possible.

Very bad news for the reliability of future classic Euston services if line X is coming out of use permanently. It saves many conflicting moves.
Have I misunderstood?
Is line X being made redundant & if so why?
It doesn’t seem to get in the way of HS2 tracks & structures.

 

[The Planner]

Very bad news for the reliability of future classic Euston services if line X is coming out of use permanently. It saves many conflicting moves.
Have I misunderstood?
Is line X being made redundant & if so why?
It doesn’t seem to get in the way of HS2 tracks & structures.

No, you are misunderstanding. I am saying that if you redevelop Euston, you need to keep line X open for as much of the programme as possible.

 

[takno]

No, you are misunderstanding. I am saying that if you redevelop Euston, you need to keep line X open for as much of the programme as possible.

I don't disagree, but it seems like you can get to line X from as far down as platform 11, so unless the redevelopment is seriously impinging on the station throat it ought to be usable throughout

 

[hwl]

I don't disagree, but it seems like you can get to line X from as far down as platform 11, so unless the redevelopment is seriously impinging on the station throat it ought to be usable throughout

If memory serves line X will have to close for a while to build the HS2 throat tunnels when they start splitting out though that may have changed.

With a Euston rebuild not having the fast line platforms split so unhelpfully to the East and West might be more helpful in the long term.

 

[The Planner]

I don't disagree, but it seems like you can get to line X from as far down as platform 11, so unless the redevelopment is seriously impinging on the station throat it ought to be usable throughout

If you are coming out off 11, you arent going to use line X. Normal high side closures are 12-16.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Dec 2024 ==

If memory serves line X will have to close for a while to build the HS2 throat tunnels when they start splitting out though that may have changed.

With a Euston rebuild not having the fast line platforms split so unhelpfully to the East and West might be more helpful in the long term.

Pretty sure the Line X work has gone.

 

[Snow1964]

Latest update on HS2 Euston approaches works

various works through to July / August, including a large concrete pour 7th May on Granby Terrace Bridge

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Interactive-Co-ordination-plan-SCS-and-MDjv-Euston-Approaches-250425.pdf

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/SCS-Euston-Approaches-road-works-250425.pdf

 

[Russel]

How would any rebuild of Euston work?

I can't see it being feasible to close Euston for more than a week or two to demolish the current station buildings and as mentioned earlier in this thread, to do it in stages would add to the already eye watering cost.

 

[The Planner]

How would any rebuild of Euston work?

I can't see it being feasible to close Euston for more than a week or two to demolish the current station buildings and as mentioned earlier in this thread, to do it in stages would add to the already eye watering cost.

It would be done in stages.

 

[Kenny G]

Cannot see why the decision cannot be made to ignore the restrictive view point lines and just build up encapsulating the British Library with platforms and lines overshooting to join HS1 and 2. I have lost track of the reasons for the height restrictions but they are relatively recent and in light of modern life difficult to justify.

 

[HSTEd]

How would any rebuild of Euston work?

I can't see it being feasible to close Euston for more than a week or two to demolish the current station buildings and as mentioned earlier in this thread, to do it in stages would add to the already eye watering cost.

I think the most effective way to do it would be to start removing the building in stages, based on whatever the functional unit of the structure is. You'd probably only have to close 2-4 platforms at a time.

Once the station was open air, it'd be a lot easier to move stuff around.

I suppose you could just close the station, do a controlled implosion and then throw everyone possible at it to clear the rubble off the platforms and get temporary overhead wiring back up - but that would likely take weeks from closure to even partial reopening.

No attempt to do anything to this station is ever going to be cheap, but it needs doing.

 

[poffle]

Cannot see why the decision cannot be made to ignore the restrictive view point lines and just build up encapsulating the British Library with platforms and lines overshooting to join HS1 and 2. I have lost track of the reasons for the height restrictions but they are relatively recent and in light of modern life difficult to justify.

One if the problems is that if you build on top of a railway station then the station becomes an underground station which creates a whole new level of cost and complexity in terms of fire safety regulations etc.

I would imagine also that building on top of a site that has a maze of existing underground infrastructure underneath it might be rather unattractive to a private developer.

 

[Bald Rick]

How would any rebuild of Euston work?

I can't see it being feasible to close Euston for more than a week or two to demolish the current station buildings and as mentioned earlier in this thread, to do it in stages would add to the already eye watering cost.

It has always been planned to be done in stages. The footprint of the first part of the HS2 station is already clear.

 

[Snow1964]

New HS2 update on works in Euston area

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/250509-Drummond-Street-Gas-Works-FINAL.pdf

Interestingly they have chosen to illustrate the update with a plan showing 11 HS2 tracks in Euston station, not sure of current significance of this (or if it just rehash of old plan)

Notice of works in your area

We wrote to you in April 2025 to notify you of works taking place in the area (reference number: HS2-MW-MD-Ph1-Eu-St-S3-Prog-works-40-01/04/2025), including our gas works on Euston Street. Work is progressing on Euston Street, and we are continuing to enable the gas diversion. We expect these...

www.hs2.org.uk

 

[Fazaar1889]

New HS2 update on works in Euston area

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/250509-Drummond-Street-Gas-Works-FINAL.pdf

Interestingly they have chosen to illustrate the update with a plan showing 11 HS2 tracks in Euston station, not sure of current significance of this (or if it just rehash of old plan)

Notice of works in your area

We wrote to you in April 2025 to notify you of works taking place in the area (reference number: HS2-MW-MD-Ph1-Eu-St-S3-Prog-works-40-01/04/2025), including our gas works on Euston Street. Work is progressing on Euston Street, and we are continuing to enable the gas diversion. We expect these...

www.hs2.org.uk

So 11 platform station back on the table?

 

[Sonik]

Hendy and others have noted that half the cost is fixing the LU station which needs doing regardless (similar to the pre-crossrail Tottenham Court Road upgrade that cost £500m). So perhaps the simple political sop here is to announce the Euston LU upgrade as an entirely separate project, with it's own budget. Then the HS2 station cost will magically become a lot more reasonable.

The original plan was:

1) Build 6 platforms alongside the classic station
2) Build another 5 platforms within the footprint of the classic station (which obviously can't happen until some Avanti services transfer to HS2).

Sunak's idea was just to stop at stage one

So 11 platform station back on the table?

It's worth noting that the west side of the upper deck of the classic station has recently been demolished. Draw your own conclusions.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 May 2025 ==

In this sense, I feel that the right solution for Euston is one where the six platforms are built adjacent to Euston, giving a footprint capable of housing a total of 22 platforms and the "middle" part of the station has a design that is able to be reconfigured to provide more capacity for HS2 in future. It wouldn't necessarily be right to provide 10 or 11 HS2 platforms straight away, if HS2 can't make use of them,

Note that the LU box sits *between* classic & HS station, within the footprint of the classic station. This is arguably the most important bit and it must be located here, both for pedflow and connection to existing LU tunnels.

A two phase design is also incredibly problematic to build. You would have a huge excavation *between tracks* so millions of tons of muck and concrete has to travel via the Euston road, across the frontage of the active station.

The delays mean that some services can be moved to OOC (Thus freeing up Euston classic platforms) so it may be possible to build the full 10/11 platform HS station in one go

 

[BRX]

The delays mean that some services can be moved from Euston to OOC (Thus freeing up classic platforms)

Do you mean some Avanti services? How does that work - how do they get to OOC?

 

[Sonik]

Do you mean some Avanti services? How does that work - how do they get to OOC?

HS2 services would substitute Avanti services (as was always the plan) but terminating short at OOC instead of Euston

e.g. Euston to Birmingham becomes OOC to Birmingham etc. (some HS2 services continue onto the classic network at Handsacre)

TfL are purchasing extra trains for the Elizabeth Line, to cope with the expected increase in passenger demand to OOC when this happens.

In the fullness of time, OOC services will extend through the tunnels to the new station at Euston

 

[Russel]

It's worth noting that the west side of the upper deck of the classic station has recently been demolished. Draw your own conclusions.

Which part of the current Euston are you describing here?

 

[BRX]

HS2 services would substitute Avanti services (as was always the plan) but terminating short at OOC instead of Euston

e.g. Euston to Birmingham becomes OOC to Birmingham etc. (some HS2 services continue onto the classic network at Handsacre)

TfL are purchasing extra trains for the Elizabeth Line, to cope with the expected increase in passenger demand to OOC when this happens.

In the fullness of time, OOC services will extend through the tunnels to the new station at Euston

I thought that was always part of the plan.

 

[Sonik]

Which part of the current Euston are you describing here?

The upper deck over the north end of the train shed (not open to the public)

Take a look on google maps it's quite obvious