HS2 Old Oak Common

[JonathanH]

I don't think there are any issues with the Euston tunnelling itself, just the configuration of the station when they get there.

No issues maybe, but presumably if funding doesn't come forward for Euston, the tunnels won't be built

 

[Meerkat]

Is it in the plan, or could it be, for the Euston tunnels and the logistics tunnel to be used for the Euston station build?

 

[uglymonkey]

So if the funding from the private sector came through does that mean the tunnels get built but into an 8 platform Euston?

 

[Sonik]

That means the station development might have a more rational client, who decides they want oversite development and sticks with that choice. The client will still be in frequent conversation with the Tory party accountants in 2024, so perhaps not.

I wouldn't count on anything. What they are proposing is a Canary Wharf style developer-led property project.

Like Canary Wharf, transport infrastructure will therefore likely be a complete afterthought, stuffed in wherever it doesn't get in the way of maximizing property values.

 

[BananaRepublic]

So if the funding from the private sector came through does that mean the tunnels get built but into an 8 platform Euston?

They've cut it down to only 6 platforms now.
With the level of surrounding commercial development proposed, it could likely end up with completely eliminating any potential for future expansion of the HS2 side of the station.
HS2 and its supporting infrastructure, including the stations, was originally intended to provide for future capacity growth, well into the rest of this century.
Despite any supposed changes in travelling patterns, with only 6 platforms, it could be that if, or when, Euston HS2 opens (well after 2030?), demand may be getting close to, or already hitting its capacity buffers.

This is an even worst decision than the canning of 2a & 2b.

.

 

[Jonny]

I was in the Old Oak Common area earlier this year and compared to other terminal areas, there is very little there especially if there is an incident that causes one side of the service to have to "tip out" rather than change trains.

 

[AlbertBeale]

The only justification left is that cancelling Phase 1 would cost more than finishing it in terms of terminating contracts and undoing all of the work done so far.

But would just stopping dead where things are now, and paying to cut the contracts (but not doing anything else except sealing up sites until someone else uses them for something) really cost more than completing all the rest of the building? Surely not. There must be years of work still to do, most of the cost of which would be saved. You don't have to undo everything - you don't have to fill in the whole of a tunnel that's already been bored, for instance.

The TBMs are under construction and are planned to be placed at the tunnel portal next year, ready for the off to be given.
The 853m logistics tunnel under the OOC site to enable them to be operational there is creeping forward and as far as I know is still at work.
I don't think there are any issues with the Euston tunnelling itself, just the configuration of the station when they get there.

Surely the new "plan", with fewer new platforms at Euston, also includes simplifying the tunnel mouth so that clashing arrival and departure movements would further inhibit capacity, compared to the complex multi-level tunnels on the approach to Euston as previously planned?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I can't find it now, but there's an HS2 photo on news feeds of a TBM head being lowered down the Victoria Road vent shaft at OOC.
This will be the first of the two TBMs which will bore the Northolt East tunnel towards Greenford Way.
The backup train still has to be assembled so it will be some weeks before it can start work.

Here's the link and some video:

MSN

Pictures show HS2 launching a 316-tonne machine component that will dig its way under west London. A crane was seen lowering part of the massive Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) into the ground, with HS2 emblazoned on the side. This TBM set to dig 3.4 miles of dirt beneath the capital. The 7.10 metre tall and 19 metres long white cylinder is a 316-tonne shield for the machine. It will protect workers from shards of rock as it whirrs through the ground from Victoria Road Crossover Box, Ealing, to Greenpark Way, Greenford. Once it Greenford, it will link up with the five-mile tunnel currently being excavated from West Ruislip, known as the Northolt Tunnel, built by another TBM. Several other TBM parts are being winched underground in Old Oak Common, west London, which is promised to become “the best-connected and largest new railway station ever built in the UK.” Each TBM will be officially named on October 23.

 

[Geogregor]

I can't find it now, but there's an HS2 photo on news feeds of a TBM head being lowered down the Victoria Road vent shaft at OOC.

Here is the same video on YT:

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 has issued new video on the Victoria Road crossover with info on how it was built and plenty over internal video

 

[SynthD]

The Central Line will be suspended next weekend because of HS2 works between East Acton and Hangar Lane. The Victoria Rd Crossover is in this area, is the work related to that site?

 

[bib]

Another update from HS2, interesting they are starting to build platforms at one end of the box

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Good to see the progress being made

 

[stuu]

Yes it's impressive progress in a couple of years. For all the negativity, the problems do seem to be on the political side whilst the contractors are just getting on with it

 

[SCDR_WMR]

It may be worth HS2 Ltd's time to do more of these video tour/updates on the key parts that are under construction. Would give the wider population a change to see how far along it is where construction is fully engaged. Certainly doesn't look a blight on the landscape there!

 

[bib]

Another tour of the box, didn't realise the box is 2x the length of the platforms.

 

[swt_passenger]

Another tour of the box, didn't realise the box is 2x the length of the platforms.

About 900m overall I think, from the drawings on the HS2 site. It must include space for a serious number of junctions and crossovers at both ends, as there are six platform lines, and I think the middle 4 platforms have connections in both directions.

 

[Fazaar1889]

Some cool drone shots of the construction site. It's actually mad how big the pit is...

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Some cool drone shots of the construction site. It's actually mad how big the pit is...

Indeed and progress has been very good. You have to question why there remain a lack of confidence in achieving 2029 still as earliest opening.

 

[NotATrainspott]

Indeed and progress has been very good. You have to question why there remain a lack of confidence in achieving 2029 still as earliest opening.

As Crossrail demonstrates pretty well, the civil engineering can be easy but the electrical and mechanical fit out can be a lot harder. Without photogenic events like TBM breakthroughs it's much harder to judge progress.

 

[JamesT]

About 900m overall I think, from the drawings on the HS2 site. It must include space for a serious number of junctions and crossovers at both ends, as there are six platform lines, and I think the middle 4 platforms have connections in both directions.

There’s also https://www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/headhouses-and-ventilation-shafts/victoria-road-crossover-box/
to the West of the station box, so you don’t need to fit all the pointwork inside the station box.

 

[AlbertBeale]

About 900m overall I think, from the drawings on the HS2 site. It must include space for a serious number of junctions and crossovers at both ends, as there are six platform lines, and I think the middle 4 platforms have connections in both directions.

If it's used as a terminus, won't all 6 platforms need connections in both directions?

 

[Snow1964]

If it's used as a terminus, won't all 6 platforms need connections in both directions?

Only going to be used as a 6 track Terminus from north.

From the Euston direction trains can only reverse in the 2 centre platforms. (Might be 4, but not outer platforms) The outer island platforms can only be used in direction of normal use, one for northbound, one for Southbound from Euston direction

The Victoria Road box to north west has a very long scissors crossover that allows trains to switch tracks to reach the other island platforms by effectively running wrong line (it's actually bi-directional)

 

[swt_passenger]

If it's used as a terminus, won't all 6 platforms need connections in both directions?

There’s 4 platforms that have connections allowing direct reversal within the station box, then the outer 2 can be used via the Victoria Road crossover box. The latter two require bidirectional running between the two boxes.

 

[TheDavibob]

Is the dotted line layout on Open Street Map correct in terms of showing connections?:

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

www.openstreetmap.org

 

[swt_passenger]

Is the dotted line layout on Open Street Map correct in terms of showing connections?:

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

www.openstreetmap.org

I think it’s based on this HS2 drawing, and appears the same on a quick glance:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7fa3a340f0b62302690b5d/C221-MMD-CV-DPP-010-201700-FPD.pdf

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

As Crossrail demonstrates pretty well, the civil engineering can be easy but the electrical and mechanical fit out can be a lot harder. Without photogenic events like TBM breakthroughs it's much harder to judge progress.

Sir John Thompson (Mark Thurstons temporary replacement) giving evidenece to Public Accounts Committee had this to say about integration

HS2 is planning to tighten management controls on budgets with the appointment in January of a Chief Railway Officer for the project. The new role will to be to integrate all elements of phase one, working alongside a new chief executive replacement for Mark Thurston.

“A lessons learnt from Crossrail is you need a single controlling mind for the programme overall, rather than working through individual lines,” said Thompson.

At least they've finally woken upto Crossrails problems and my moneys on Mark Wild (ex Crossrail mgr who sorted that project out) appearing.

Also at the PAC Sir John declared that 2030 is the current target opening date.

All this gleaned from https://www.constructionenquirer.co...s-blasts-cost-plus-jobs-for-6bn-of-overspend/

 

[Bald Rick]

Sir John Thompson (Mark Thurstons temporary replacement) giving evidenece to Public Accounts Committee had this to say about integration

Strictly speaking, he‘s the chairman. There’s no replacement for Mark T yet.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Strictly speaking, he‘s the chairman. There’s no replacement for Mark T yet.

He was introduced as the Executive Chairman as hes covering for Thurston till they appoint a replacement. Personally id leave him running the show he was very refreshing and candid compared to Thurston and others who've appeared in front of select committees.

 

[Greybeard33]

He was introduced as the Executive Chairman as hes covering for Thurston till they appoint a replacement. Personally id leave him running the show he was very refreshing and candid compared to Thurston and others who've appeared in front of select committees.

From Huw Merriman's HS2 6-monthly report written statement to Parliament:

The former HS2 Ltd. Chief Executive, Mark Thurston left HS2 Ltd. at the end of September. I am grateful to Sir Jon Thompson for taking on additional responsibilities in an Executive Chair capacity until a successor is in post. Sir Jon will continue to be supported at Board level by Deputy Chair Elaine Holt. Recruiting a new Chief Executive is a priority for HS2 Ltd. and the Department and we expect to be able to announce an appointment early in the new year.

Rail Update

Department for Transport written statement – made 15 November 2023

www.theyworkforyou.com