Network Rail has started clearing the London site where HS2’s Old Oak Common station will be built.
The work includes decommissioning railway lines and train depots to prepare the area for the new Old Oak Common rail interchange. Network Rail will remove overhead electric lines and disconnect utilities as a first step. After that, building and track demolition can get underway.
The depot was being used for Heathrow Express trains. The last of them left on a low loader lorry on 16 February. After that the site was formally handed over to Network Rail. HS2 Ltd will be responsible for demolishing the Heathrow Express depot once Network Rail completes its decommissioning work.
The Old Oak Common interchange will provide passengers with connections to London, the West and the North via HS2, the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) and existing rail services. It is scheduled for completion in 2030.
“Our teams are busy making sure that everything is ready for the latest stage of this vital project. Network Rail’s work, in collaboration with Heathrow Express, SRSA and the DfT, is crucial to facilitate the redevelopment of Old Oak Common. The new high-speed rail station will be truly transformative, bringing significant passenger and community benefits.”
By removing the two train depots in phases, passenger services have been able to continue throughout the work.
HS2 has presented its design of the Oxford Canal Viaduct that will measure 62.5m and span the canal and towpath between Banbury and Daventry.
HS2 Ltd has published its shortlist of companies it has asked to tender for the high-speed railway's high-voltage power supply systems.
HS2 has cast the first of 112,000 wall segments for the high-speed railway's 10-mile Chiltern tunnel outside of London.
Work has begun on what will be the UK's longest rail viaduct – the Colne Valley Viaduct to the northwest of London, measuring 3.4km.
HS2 will use retired wind turbine blades originally destined for the incinerator to make reinforced concrete that is carbon-friendly.
HS2 Ltd has started its search for a specialist contractor to deliver the high-speed railway's engineering management system (EMS).
Collins Earthworks has completed the preparation of the HS2 site in Warwickshire in readiness for tunnelling to start this summer.
HS2 Ltd has started its search for a contractor to build the rolling stock depot and control centre at Washwood Heath in Birmingham.
HS2 Ltd has revealed the design of the Euston tunnel headhouse that will sit alongside the West Coast Main Line in London.
HS2 Phase 2a, connecting the high-speed line from London to Crewe via Birmingham, has received royal assent in parliament.
HS2 has revealed its final design for the headhouse and vent shaft at Chalfont St Giles which will provide ventilation to the Chiltern tunnel.
Comments in the Commissioner's report stating the government is exploring cutting down platform numbers at HS2 Euston have sparked concern.
The first of five headhouses that will provide ventilation and emergency access to the HS2 Chiltern tunnel has gained planning approval.
The designs for the HS2 viaducts at Water Orton in Warwickshire have been unveiled following a public consultation in spring 2020.
HS2 has started its search for a switches and crossings supplier for Phase 1 and Phase 2a of the high-speed line between London and Crewe.
The National Infrastructure Commission has published its Rail Needs Assessment report, causing widespread dismay over possible cuts to HS2.
HS2 Ltd has revealed the first images of the north portal for the Long Itchington Wood tunnel site southeast of Birmingham.
HS2 and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) will work together on utility diversions in readiness of the metro eastside extension.
Network Rail has announced major works at Euston for the construction of the HS2 terminus and on the West Coast Main Line in 2021.
Midlands Voices report by the High Speed Rail Group says the eastern leg of HS2 up to Leeds is crucial for levelling up the country.
The tunnel boring machines that will excavate the HS2 Chiltern tunnel will be equipped with robotic arms to help with the concrete segments.
HS2 Ltd has published the updated designs for the Canterbury Works vent shaft headhouse, which will sit above the Euston tunnel in London.
HS2 Ltd has unveiled the design of two viaducts in Northamptonshire as a four-week consultation period for local residents gets underway.
The HS2 rail project has generated more than 400 apprenticeships to date, with a goal of creating 2,000 over the course of the project.
HS2 Ltd has signed a contract with contractor Skanka Costain STRAVAG JV for the first 2 tunnel boring machines to start on the HS2 project.
HS2 Ltd has launched a public consultation on proposed changes the Phase 2b of the high-speed rail project, including additional platforms.
HS2 Ltd has today (4 Sep 2020) announced the formal start of construction on the high-speed railway line, a major milestone for the project.
Solihull Council has awarded planning permission for the HS2 Interchange Station, the surrounding landscaping and the automated people mover.
HS2 Ltd has revealed the design for the vent shaft headhouse at Amersham, one of five such structures along the Chiltern tunnel.
HS2 Ltd has signed an agreement with UKRRIN to accelerate the development of innovative rail technologies and their time to market.
HS2 Ltd has launched part two of its Innovation Accelerator following a large number of applications in part one.
HS2 Ltd has revealed the first images and names of the two TBMs that will create the tunnel through the Chilterns: Florence and Cecilia.
HS2 Ltd has begun its search for the contractor to deliver the high-voltage power supply systems, traction and non-traction, for the line.
HS2's Old Oak Common site has been handed over to contractors Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA, who won the contract to build the station in 2019.
HS2: the Chiltern Tunnel south portal site has now been fully levelled and the 17m headwall is now complete in preparation for the TBMs.
HS2 has revealed its final design for the first of four vent shaft headhouses for the Chiltern tunnel. This one is at Chalfont St Peter.
HS2 joint venture Mace Dragados has taken possession of the Euston Station construction site, preparing for the start of construction.
HS2 Ltd has started its search for overhead catenary system suppliers in preparation of awarding the £300m contract in 2022.
HS2 Ltd has launched a new hiring drive in anticipation of the start of major construction works on Phase 1 of the high-speed rail project.
HS2: The preparatory works at Euston station have reached a milestone with the demolition of the western ramp and canopy complete.
HS2 Ltd has revealed the construction companies that are shortlisted to tender for the Birmingham Curzon Street station build.
HS2 Ltd has launched its search for its operational telecoms supplier for Phase 1 and 2a of the high-speed line between London and Crewe.
HS2 has launched an Innovation Accelerator to help develop solutions in three areas: the environment, the circular economy, and productivity.
HS2 has revealed the first images of its south portal launch site from where two German-made TBMs will dig the Chiltern tunnels.
HS2 has received delivery of the first steel girders for the first bridges to be built on the project at the Birmingham Interchange site.
HS2 has adopted the CESAR ECV, an emissions identification scheme, to help keep emissions across its sites as low as possible.
2020 has its challenges to the rail sector with the coronavirus pandemic but there has been good news too: HS2 has its notice to proceed.
The DfT has extended the independent construction commissioner's brief to include HS2 Phase 2a. The role is held by Sir Mark Worthington.
Old Oak Common, one of the new stations being built for HS2, has received planning approval. The JV building it will begin in June 2020.
HS2 has formally launched search for signalling contractors. It will shortlist candidates in 2021 and issue contracts in 2022.
HS2 says it will pay its suppliers as soon as possible rather than within the contract terms and has asked Tier 1 contractors to do the same.
Curzon Street is the first of the HS2 stations to receive planning permission. It will form the Birmingham terminus of the high-speed line.
HS2 has officially launched its search for track systems suppliers for Phase 1 and 2a. There are 4 lots. Contracts will be awarded in 2022.
HS2 Interchange station near Solihull in the West Midlands is the first in the world to achieve the 'outstanding' classification by BREEAM.
The rail industry, associations, and unions have responded to the UK government's approval for HS2 Ltd to issue Notice to Proceed.
The UK government has given HS2 Ltd the approval to issue Notice to Proceed to the four main works civils contractors working on the project.
The UK PM gave the go-ahead for HS2 in parliament today. This decision has been welcomed by industry in general, including the rail sector.
The UK government will today give HS2 the go-ahead following a review into the high-speed rail project due to concerns about its cost.
HS2 has been heavily criticised by environmental organisations. Railway-News believes this is short-sighted and needs addressing.
Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA joint venture wins construction management contract for HS2's Old Oak Common station worth 1 billion GBP.
The UK government has launched the Oakervee Review into HS2 to determine whether and how the high-speed line should proceed.
HS2 has received approval on their plans for Euston's 'sugar cube'. The structure will house a substation, electrical equipment and more.
HS2 will trial augmented reality training for its staff for Old Oak Common, which will serve both HS2 and the Elizabeth Line once built.
The Railway-News Industry Insider week 30: Deutsche Bahn resumes acceptance of ICE 4 trains, purchased 17 new double-decker trains and more.
On the 16 July 2019 HS2 revealed the designs for its new automated people mover (APM). The APM will link Birmingham interchange station...
Rail sector diversity: 3-year report on diversity in transport by the Strategic Transport Apprenticeship Taskforce finds strong progress.
The UK government has agreed to contribute 11 million GBP in funding towards the new Institute for High Speed Rail and System Integration.
The Railway-News Industry Insider week 25: Bombardier announces new car assembly site in California, HS2 gives a talk at Rail Live and more.
For International Women in Engineering Day 2019, we look at the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) talk given by Mark Lomas from HS2.
The Railway-News Industry Insider week 23: Alstom, Bombardier/Hitachi and Siemens mobility release their proposed train designs for HS2.
Siemens Mobility joins Alstom and Bombardier-Hitachi in submitting a bid to design and manufacture the high-speed trains for HS2 in the UK.
Bombardier and Hitachi have unveiled the first image of their proposed HS2 train design. They will submit their bid to HS2 Ltd today.
Alstom has unveiled its design for the HS2 trains. HS2 is the new high-speed railway line for the UK. HS2 Ltd will award the contract in 2020.
The Railway-News Industry Insider week 48 (26–30 November): read all the important news from Stadler, Bombardier, Alstom, Siemens Mobility, Deutsche Bahn and ...
Hitachi and Bombardier have announced their plans to establish a Global High Speed Rail Learning Programme. The transport and engineering companies presented th...
The Railway-News Industry Insider for the week 29 October – 2 November 2018: all the key news from the major industry players such as Alstom, Bombardier, Stad...
HS2 Ltd has launched 2 public consultations on Phase 2b route of the line. Communities in the area can formally respond to working drafts of the Environmental S...
The Railway-News Industry Insider for the week 1–5 October 2018: all this week's news from around the world, featuring comment pieces by the European Court of...
High Speed Two Ltd has announced that the Euston station demolition works are now complete: the former 250m carriage sheds have now been fully demolished so tha...
The speed of developing HS2 is increasing rapidly. Nevertheless, the construction of HS2 has caused a number of objections from different parties. Not all of th...
HS2 Ltd has published a 'Skills Strategy' of employment and training initiatives to ensure the successful delivery of the project. In addition to approximately...
Hitachi Rail Europe and Bombardier Transportation have committed to setting up a new bid centre in Birmingham to develop their proposal to design 54 trainsets f...
Sir David Higgins, the outgoing chairman of HS2 Ltd, has published a report, 'HS2: Realising the Potential' which documents the benefits HS2 is already providin...
Hitachi Rail Europe and Bombardier Transportation have announced a joint bid to the HS2 Procurement Programme for the design, build and delivery a fleet of besp...
HS2 Ltd has invited CAF to join the list of companies which it has invited to participate in their procurement programme for state-of-the-art high speed trains....
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has announced the themes and keynote speakers for its 2018 Conference in London, 22 October. The 2018 event will focus on...
UK: The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced more than £8 million of funding for an HS2 Green Corridor of new, native woodland and wildlife habitats ar...
The Rail Freight Group (RFG) has appointed Hans-Georg Werner, CEO of DB Cargo UK, as its new chairman. The RFG's priorities for 2018 include campaigning for the...
Greengauge 21 has published a report, Beyond HS2, which advocates a specific strategy to shape the railways of Great Britain in the next few decades. The report...
The West Coast Main Line has been one of the most important corridors for rail freight in Great Britain for decades. In 2026 its capacity will be transformed by...
For the rail industry as a whole, the exit of Carillion from the market in the UK and other countries will have a large impact on both the industry and...
Plans to transform Birmingham International Station into a major transport hub have taken a significant step forward after Solihull Metropolitan...
Operating at speeds of up to 225mph (360kph), the new fleet of HS2 trains will deliver unparalleled levels of reliability, speed and comfort as well as...
The winners of the major construction contracts for HS2 Phase One were announced today, 17 July 2017, with the £6.6 billion contracts...
The UK Government has today announced the names of the companies in the running for the new West Coast Partnership (WCP) rail franchise and the next...
HS2 Bill gains Royal Assent paving way for new rail line that will increase capacity on our railways, connect the biggest cities, generating jobs and...
The hunt for a company to design, build and maintain a fleet of state-of-the-art high speed trains for Britain’s HS2 network was launched today...
HS2 took a step closer to construction today with the confirmation of three joint ventures to deliver essential early works, including...
The government today announced a new rail franchise which will combine the current InterCity West Coast services with the development of HS2.
The Transport Secretary has confirmed that the Government is committed to pressing ahead with HS2 to tackle the looming capacity crisis the rail network...
Please fill in the contact form opposite. A member of the team will be in touch shortly.