HS2 construction updates

[LNW-GW Joint]

I thought the Northolt tunnels were being bored in the southbound direction from West Ruislip?

Yes I got the direction wrong.
The state of the Old Oak site is not critical then.

 

[reddragon]

Are HS2 following Crossrail on delivery programmes?

 

[Yindee8191]

Thanks for the answers - looking forward to seeing more progress on the OOC end seeing as I regularly go past the site on the GWML.

 

[tomuk]

Yes I got the direction wrong.
The state of the Old Oak site is not critical then.

The Northolt tunnels will be dug from both ends. Two TBMs east from West Ruislip and two TBMs west from Old Oak Common they will meet at Green Park Way near Greenford Station next to IBM Greenford.

 

[Bald Rick]

The Euston tunnels will also be bored from there, but they are shorter and are not critical to Phase 1 completion.

The Euston tunnels are absolutely critical to Phase 1, but I suspect you mean they are not on the critical path of the programme.

 

[ABB125]

The Euston tunnels are absolutely critical to Phase 1, but I suspect you mean they are not on the critical path of the programme.

They're only critical if HS2 actually goes to Euston...

 

[Bald Rick]

They're only critical if HS2 actually goes to Euston...

True, but given how much cash has already been spent on Euston, and the size of the hole in the ground there, it’s a safe bet that HS2 is indeed going to Euston.

 

[Jozhua]

I don’t know what the speed limit for these vehicles in the tunnel is, but if it is, say, 20mph it will be taking half an hour to get each way when the tunnel is nearly finished.

I thought they were supposed to move through the tunnels at 200mph

Are HS2 following Crossrail on delivery programmes?

HS1 was delivered on time - generally stations end up being the sticking point. This is why it is vital that a decision is made on Euston and stuck with, even if it is the wrong decision. The worst decision will be indecision!

Crossrail's stations have been so expensive and so difficult because the station boxes have had to be bored underground in central London while trying to limit surface disruption. At least with a clear site at Euston and cut/cover techniques, things should go a lot smoother for the HS2 terminus. As Birmingham Curzon Street will be on the surface, there will be a much lower chance of this being delivered late.

In terms of underground rail construction, a lot of countries now bore tunnels but use cut/cover for stations, because the costs/complexity of boring station boxes is so high.

 

[Grumpy Git]

I wonder if the cost of all the tunnel segments has been made at an agreed price? With the gas market as it is currently, cement is going to be as expensive as caviar.

 

[popeter45]

I wonder if the cost of all the tunnel segments has been made at an agreed price? With the gas market as it is currently, cement is going to be as expensive as caviar.

considering they have there own concrete plan for segments i assume that at least they will have huge supplies already in stores that should tie them over till prices drop

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

This isn't really the place to discuss, but the energy price spike has the potential to be very damaging to rail projects and operation.
It does indeed depend on how contracts have been framed, but costs will undoubtedly rise.
On the operational railway I think NR has a long-term deal for electricity with EDF but when the contract is renegotiated, the cost will go up.
On the construction side, when it becomes uneconomic suppliers will simply stop production until the price returns to "normal", as the fertilizer plants did.

 

[edwin_m]

This isn't really the place to discuss, but the energy price spike has the potential to be very damaging to rail projects and operation.
It does indeed depend on how contracts have been framed, but costs will undoubtedly rise.
On the operational railway I think NR has a long-term deal for electricity with EDF but when the contract is renegotiated, the cost will go up.
On the construction side, when it becomes uneconomic suppliers will simply stop production until the price returns to "normal", as the fertilizer plants did.

What happens to energy prices in ten years time is anybody's guess. But one would like to think there will be much more domestic renewables, which should reduce the fluctuations caused by international commodity prices.

 

[Bald Rick]

On the operational railway I think NR has a long-term deal for electricity with EDF but when the contract is renegotiated, the cost will go up.

It’s not a fixed price deal.

 

[BRX]

Oops they are 2m (mental arithmetic minus coffee never a good idea). The cargo MSVs have two trailer segments one set up for segments and the other for grout and other supplies. They can/could have a third trailer segment added.


Delivery of the segments from the factory on the Isle of Grain to West Ruislip is due to start in January which suggests Feb or March tunnelling start.

Is the Isle of Grain factory only producing segments for the London tunnels, or for other bits of HS2 too?

 

[hwl]

Is the Isle of Grain factory only producing segments for the London tunnels, or for other bits of HS2 too?

Only the London tunnels (different contract to Chiltern), I think the contract may only be some of the London segments or that they have just agreed a contract for the earlier starting tunnels at this point.
The factory is currently making super sewer segments.

 

[BRX]

Only the London tunnels (different contract to Chiltern), I think the contract may only be some of the London segments or that they have just agreed a contract for the earlier starting tunnels at this point.
The factory is currently making super sewer segments.

Thanks.

Would seem to make sense that if they are already all set up and running, that they follow on from the super sewer work with some HS2 contracts. And of course they are already rail connected.

 

[MarkWi72]

I'd think Euston must be a destination - especially considering what I saw near Euston Square last Thursday. It's been decimated around there.

 

[hwl]

Thanks.

Would seem to make sense that if they are already all set up and running, that they follow on from the super sewer work with some HS2 contracts. And of course they are already rail connected.

Indeed - the contract is for rail delivery to West Ruislip (1st pair of the London contract TBMs) which suggests the contract for the segments of the 2nd (West from OOC west crossover box) and 3rd (east from OOC station) pairs may not have been signed yet.

 

[IanH440]

This apeared yesterday.

How the North East will see HUNDREDS of jobs created as it will make tunnels for HS2

A LANDMARK HS2 contract is set to see a brand-new factory created on an old oil rig fabrication site on Teesside, creating over 100 new jobs for…

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

 

[BRX]

It looks like there will be two sites producing segments then - one at Grain which will produce 58,000 segments according to this:

First tunnel segment contract for HS2’s London tunnels awarded to Pacadar UK

Isle of Grain - Kent factory will be producing 58,000 individual concrete tunnel segments, almost 10miles of tunnel Factory recently completed supply of 7.5miles of tunnel segments for Thames Tideway

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

• Isle of Grain - Kent factory will be producing 58,000 individual concrete tunnel segments, almost 10miles of tunnel

HS2’s contractor delivering the London tunnels, Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture (SCS JV), has signed the first of two contracts for the production of concrete precast tunnel segments that will be used to construct HS2’s London tunnels. Pacadar UK will be manufacturing the tunnel lining at their factory in the Isle of Grain, Kent...

And then that one in Teesside, producing 36,000 segments.

Both delivering to site by rail.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Looks like Hartlepool will be supplying the Old Oak TBMs via Willesden, while Grain will be supplying those at West Ruislip.
The Hartlepool contract is also on the HS2 site:
HS2 contract set to bring new factory and over 100 new jobs to Hartlepool

STRABAG will be providing 36,000 segments for the twin bored tunnels under London from HS2’s new Old Oak Common station to Green Parkway running underneath Northolt.

So the two STRABAG subcontracts are complementary for the Northolt tunnels.
Presumably the Hartlepool/Old Oak contract will also extend to the Euston tunnels later.

 

[hwl]

Presumably the Hartlepool/Old Oak contract will also extend to the Euston tunnels later.

If "in house" ownership proves to be cheaper and depending on what other work is on for the Isle of Grain factory (not owned by JV partners). I'm not sure the Silvertown segment contract has been awarded (tunnelling starting several months after West Ruislip (1TBM for both bores so a longer slower supply rate) and then there are the new Thames Crossing segments potentially starting when HS2 segment work has completed. All four of those road tunnel bores are huge diameter (more than twice the HS2 tunnel diameter) so a lot of concrete per unit tunnel length.

 

[Dave_Cardboard]

Latest 6 monthly report to Parliament published...

10 Platform Euston confirmed - being spun as "more efficient."
Phase2a "Delivery Into Service (DiS)" range has a later end date - 2030-2034.

HS2 6-monthly report to Parliament: October 2021

Review of High Speed 2 (HS2) including programme update, local community impact and engagement, environment and benefits.

www.gov.uk

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

HS2 six monthly report to parliament out and pretty comprehensive update.

Some snippets probably more ive missed

• launching the first tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that are digging the 10-mile-long tunnels underneath the Chilterns hills. The 2 TBMs have driven a combined distance of approximately 1.5 miles and are progressing ahead of schedule. Construction on the new ‘superhub’ HS2 station at Old Oak Common (supporting 2,300 jobs and 250 apprenticeships) has also started
• at Euston, we’ve confirmed the move to a less complex, more efficient 10-platform design, which can be built in a single-stage, and can still support the full operation of the HS2 network
• releasing tenders for Phase One and 2a rail systems packages, with 14 rail systems packages available over the next 2 years (which include systems for track, power, signalling and communications)

On delivery into service

Whilst the forecast DiS range for Phase One remains 2029 to 2033, HS2 Ltd has identified some potential minor delays in the southern section of the line-of-route and tunnels leading into Old Oak Common from outer London. Our focus now is to identify efficiencies and control risk in these key areas.
Following Royal Assent of the Phase 2a High Speed Rail Bill, the Phase 2a DiS range has now been set to 2030 to 2034.

On cost

HS2 remains within budget. The overall budget for Phase One, including Euston, remains £44.6 billion. This is composed of the target cost of £40.3 billion and additional government-retained contingency of £4.3 billion. The target cost includes contingency delegated to HS2 Ltd of £5.6 billion for managing risk and uncertainties.
On Phase 2a, revised delivery arrangements were approved in June 2021 based on an updated cost range of £5.2 billion to £7.2 billion, broadly similar to the National Audit Office’s (NAO’s) report of January 2020. Arrangements will be formalised in the Spending Review.

Why mention the spending review I wonder

Since my last report, the first £15 million of the £4.3 billion of government-retained contingency for Phase One has been allocated, to increase the number of trains that Old Oak Common station can serve from 3 to 6 trains per hour whilst it acts as the temporary London terminus. This will unlock substantial economic benefits until the completion of the new HS2 station at Euston.

and on Euston

In response to a recommendation from the Oakervee Review about looking into the efficiency of the Euston station, the move to a smaller, simpler 10-platform station design at Euston has now been confirmed, which can be built in a single-stage (instead of an 11-platform, 2-stage build). This will provide a more efficient design and delivery strategy and play a significant role in mitigating the affordability pressures recently identified. Moving to this revised HS2 Euston station design maintains the station infrastructure capacity to run 17 trains per hour, as set out in the Phase One full business case.

On rolling stock

There have been various legal challenges to the rolling stock process, but we expect the contract award to be in the autumn subject to there being no further challenges. It is not expected that this delay will affect the planned opening of Phase One services.

All in all a good start but a long way to go of course

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The clever text on contingencies is fascinating (some held with HS2 Ltd and some with DfT).
Some cost overrun is evident on the tunnelled sections, but it is only a few percent of this or that contingency so not to worry.
The Euston platform decision covers some more overrun in that area.
And what's this? - Network Rail want more money for the alterations to the classic railway at Euston.
Still a notional one-year gap between Phase 1 opening (to Lichfield) and Phase 2a completion to Crewe, around 2030-ish.
No real rush to order the trains, then.

It must be a nightmare to manage such a project, but it is disappointing that the political narrative is already very defensive about costs.
It didn't give any of the Phase 2b/NPR/IRP answers away, so we are still waiting for the white smoke...

 

[yorkie]

Just a gentle reminder this is a stations & infrastructure thread for HS2 construction updates.

If anyone wishes to discuss anything else please create a new thread (if there isn't one already) in an appropriate forum section

Thanks

Edit: Discussion regarding the announcement to build 10 (rather than 11) platforms can be found here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/hs2-euston-number-of-platforms-again.222196/

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

HS2 Ltd has updated the Chiltern tunnels TBM positions for November 1:
Florence is at 2021m (+380m since Oct 1)
Cecilia is at 1384m (+374m)

So steady progress in October at just over 12m/day.
It looks like these numbers will be updated for the first day of each month.
In Your Area Map - High Speed 2 (hs2.org.uk)

The TBM being assembled to bore under Long Itchington wood in Warwickshire has been named "Dorothy" by Pete Waterman, after Nobel prizewinner Dorothy Hodgkin.
It will construct both 1-mile bores in sequence.

 

[civ-eng-jim]

Good progress...but the rate's going to have to increase rapidly if they're aiming for completion in 3 years.

 

[Yindee8191]

HS2 Ltd has updated the Chiltern tunnels TBM positions for November 1:
Florence is at 2021m (+380m)
Cecilia is at 1384m (+374m)

So steady progress in October at just over 12m/day.
It looks like these numbers will be updated for the first day of each month.
In Your Area Map - High Speed 2 (hs2.org.uk)

The TBM being assembled to bore under Long Itchington wood in Warwickshire has been named "Dorothy" by Pete Waterman, after Nobel prizewinner Dorothy Hodgkin.
It will construct both 1-mile bores in sequence.

By my (admittedly quite rough) estimations Florence can’t be that far from the first vent shaft right? Google Earth measurement guesstimating suggests it’s something like 2.8km.

 

[civ-eng-jim]

By my (admittedly quite rough) estimations Florence can’t be that far from the first vent shaft right? Google Earth measurement guesstimating suggests it’s something like 2.8km.

Christmas Day by my reckoning!