HS2 contractors to start work on Old Oak Common’s record-breaking station box

A three way partnership between Balfour Beatty, Vinci and Systra (BBVS) is gearing up to start work on Old Oak Common’s most important station box this month.

When full it will likely be the biggest sub-surface station within the UK, with a box construction 850m lengthy, 70m vast and 20m deep. It can even be the biggest station ever constructed within the UK as a single challenge.

The West London hub will initially act because the London terminus for High Speed 2 (HS2), with Euston now due to open later than the remainder of section one of many high-speed rail line connecting London to the Midlands.

Board papers launched forward of this week’s TfL Programme’s and Investment Committee assembly reveal that “enabling works are ramping up at Old Oak Common in readiness for piling and excavation works for the primary station box, that are anticipated to start in May 2021”.

The papers add that work on the primary station box relies on the “decision of floor monitoring requirement points, which have progressed considerably throughout [the last quarter]”.

A HS2 spokesperson confirmed that “the BBVS workforce are presently getting mobilised and ready to start the primary permeant works at Old Oak Common station within the subsequent few weeks”.

When full the station can have 14 platforms in whole, with six 450m lengthy high-speed rail platforms located underground throughout the 850m lengthy station box.

The station box will probably be accessed by way of twin tunnels, which can ultimately take the high-speed trains east to the Southern terminus at Euston.

Construction of the station box will contain the excavation of 740,000m3 of London clay. The box diaphragm partitions will probably be 1.8km in size and the interior help to the HS2 station superstructure will probably be offered by 25m deep-bored piles.

When accomplished in 2030, the brand new “super-hub” station will hyperlink Elizabeth line (Crossrail), HS2, Heathrow Express and GWR companies to the West and Midlands.

The station can also be central to OPDC regeneration plans for the realm that can see 1000’s of recent properties constructed in West London.

BBVS was awarded the £1bn Old Oak Common station contract in September 2019. The determination was challenged within the High Court by dropping bidder Bechtel who claimed that HS2 Ltd accepted an “abnormally low bid” when it awarded the contract to BBVS three way partnership.

Consequently, Bechtel was looking for up to £100M in damages. However, after a prolonged authorized battle a High Court choose dominated that “Bechtel’s claims in these proceedings all fail”, particularly stating that BBVS’s sources weren’t abnormally low.

In January, HS2’s enabling works contractor CSJV – Costain, Skanska –  started the everlasting building of the Victoria Road crossover box, close to to Old Oak Common, which can enable HS2 trains to change tracks underground on their method into the brand new superhub station.

Network Rail has additionally carried out an intensive quantity of decommissioning work on the web site, eradicating outdated overhead electrical traces and utilities.

The station design improvement was led by WSP and WilkinsonEyre, to develop conceptual designs.

Like what you have learn? To obtain New Civil Engineer’s every day and weekly newsletters click on right here.

Recommended For You