HS2 completes Old Oak Common foundations
The foundations for HS2's new Old Oak Common station in London have been completed, marking a significant milestone in the project's development. The 850-m-long underground station box will house six platforms dedicated to high-speed trains.
Construction of the base slab began in April 2023 and concluded recently, involving 91 separate concrete pours. In total, 76,000 cubic metres of concrete and 17,000 tonnes of reinforced steel were used. The slab covers 45,000 square metres—equivalent to more than six football pitches—and reaches nearly two metres thick at its deepest point.
Peter Gow, HS2’s project client for Old Oak Common, commented: "Completing the base slab of the underground station box is a key milestone in building HS2’s new super hub station in West London. This is the final stage in completing the foundations for the high-speed station, and will be where HS2 tracks are laid, platforms are constructed and the station building and roof are built above."
The station is being constructed by the Balfour Beatty Vinci SYSTRA joint venture (BBVS). At peak construction, the base slab works employed up to 50 steel fixers and 20 joiners, supported by a team of engineers.
Steve O’Sullivan, project director for BBVS, noted: "With the completion of the base slab, we have achieved another significant milestone at Old Oak Common. In less than two years, we have carried out 91 concrete pours of between 600 and 1,000 cubic metres each. Logistically, this has been a huge undertaking, requiring detailed planning and collaboration between HS2, Balfour Beatty Vinci SYSTRA and our supply chain partners."
London Concrete, part of the Holcim Group, supplied the concrete from a dedicated batching plant on site. Over 90% of the concrete used was manufactured on site, reducing lorry movements and CO2 emissions. Additionally, low-carbon ECOPact concrete was utilised, contributing to the project's sustainability goals.
The completion of the base slab allows for the next phase of construction, which includes building the ground floor level of the station and the superstructure above. Work is also underway on the six high-speed service platforms, with wall frameworks being installed in preparation for concrete pouring. The high-speed platform slabs are currently being manufactured by Explore in Worksop, with installation set to begin this spring.
Old Oak Common station is poised to become one of the UK's most connected transport hubs. In addition to the six underground high-speed platforms, eight surface-level platforms are being constructed to provide interchange with the Great Western Railway, Elizabeth Line, and Heathrow Express.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter
