HS2 has seen the installation of its first dedicated platform in an underground box at the new Old Oak Common station.
The platform, which is one of six set to be installed at the to-be-superhub in West London in anticipation of HS2’s arrival, has been built in advance of an additional eight surface-level platforms for the Great Western Mainline, the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express services.
Each platform will serve HS2’s fleet of 400-metre long trains and will be installed concurrently, with construction beginning from either end of the station box and laid out as three ‘island’ style blocks.
In order to install the platforms, 1.59m high walls have been poured, with 1,960 pre-cast concrete slabs, made by Explore Manufacturing, have been placed on top.
Construction for the station itself has been handled by Balfour Beatty VINCI SYTRA (BBVS JV), which began work in June 2021. The underground station box itself was completed at Old Oak Common earlier this year.
Huw Edwards, Delivery Director for stations and placemaking at HS2 Ltd, said:The installation of the first passenger platforms represents a real step forward in taking HS2 from purely a construction project to the future of Britain’s railways.
Whilst there is still much more to work to do, standing where passengers will alight HS2 services is a reminder of what this railway will achieve - creating connections between people and places, that will benefit generations to come.
HS2 is expected to begin the full installation of the eight aforementioned platforms to be used by conventional rail services later this year, with the BBVS JV team also currently working to construct the new station’s ground floor.
