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.
Patrick Cawley, Director of On Network Works for HS2 Ltd and Network Rail, said: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.
