The first passenger platforms for Britain’s new high-speed railway are now being installed at Old Oak Common in West London, marking a significant milestone in the HS2 project.
Located within the 850-metre-long underground station box, six platforms are being constructed for HS2’s fleet of 400-metre trains. These are the first platforms to be unveiled anywhere on the HS2 route and offer a glimpse into the future passenger experience.
Each of the six platforms is being constructed using pre-cast concrete slabs laid atop 1.59-metre-high invert walls. A total of 1,960 slabs—measuring up to 4 metres by 2 metres—are being manufactured off-site in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, by Explore Manufacturing. This approach supports UK manufacturing and enables faster installation with reduced disruption.
The platforms are laid out as three ‘island’ blocks, allowing efficient boarding and alighting from both sides. Below each platform is a service void designed for the installation of critical infrastructure such as electrical systems.
The work is being delivered by Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA (BBVS JV), HS2’s construction partner for Old Oak Common station. Permanent construction began following government approval in 2021, and the base slab was completed earlier this year.
Despite recent progress, HS2 is undergoing a strategic review, led by CEO Mark Wild, to ensure the project is delivered efficiently and at the lowest feasible cost.
“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,” said Huw Edwards, Delivery Director for Stations and Placemaking at HS2 Ltd.
“This milestone marks a defining moment,” added Steve O’Sullivan, Project Director at BBVS. “It highlights the transition from civil engineering to station fit-out and systems installation.”
Later this year, HS2 will begin work on the eight surface-level platforms that will serve the Great Western Mainline, Elizabeth Line, and Heathrow Express. When complete, Old Oak Common will become one of the most connected stations in the UK, linking to over 100 destinations and becoming the 42nd stop on the Elizabeth Line.
Above the high-speed platforms, BBVS teams are constructing the ground floor level of the station, from which the superstructure will rise. Meanwhile, tunnelling work to connect the station to the HS2 network continues, with two tunnel boring machines set to launch from the eastern end of the station box.
HS2’s impact on West London extends beyond transport. Research conducted by Arcadis indicates the project is driving a GBP 10 billion regeneration boost in the area, with over 22,000 new homes, 693,000 square metres of commercial space, and nearly 19,000 jobs expected within 1.5 miles of the station site.
The station is a central feature in the masterplan being delivered by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), which is overseeing the regeneration of 650 hectares in the area, one of the largest development zones in London.
Share on:
