HS2 construction updates

[LNW-GW Joint]

Plus, pretty much no contemporary country sees fully private railway construction anymore.

How about these?

Railways in the Pilbara - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I think you could reasonably argue that the Eurotunnel system and the Heathrow Express branch are "fully private construction".
They were not funded by public money, although they do rely on some public funds for their operation (the government bought or guaranteed to use some of their capacity).

 

[edwin_m]

It's almost unheard of for rail infrastructure to be funded on a purely commercial basis, otherwise there'd be companies knocking at Government's door to get permission to do so.

Eurotunnel isn't really a railway, it's a means of transporting road vehicles as an alternative to the ferries, with a little sideline of carrying through trains. Heathrow Express is similarly unusual seeking to obtain a monopoly in linking one a global city to its main airport - and even the alternative transport options have to pay Heathrow for using the infrastructure.

Some Japanese railway companies make a profit, but mainly because they are allowed to benefit from property developments near their stations, as the Metropolitan was but no other railway in the UK. When TOCs claim to be returning money to DfT this doesn't take account of the part of the money paid out by DfT direct to Network Rail that relates to the infrastructure used by that TOC. And if the railways were still paying down the capital cost of building them then their economics would look even worse.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I think MTR in its home Hong Kong is profitable, but benefits from property development along its routes.
The US and Canadian railroads are also a mix of transport and land/property/resources development.
In fact the transcontinental railroads were financed as much by land grants along the routes as railway construction.
I think the Denver & Rio Grande, having sold its railway assets to Union Pacific, is now essentially a real estate company, notably in the Colorado/Utah mining sectors.

In the 20th century there was still space for transport/property conglomerates like Canadian Pacific (much as the LMS was until nationalisation).
The tendency since has been to separate the different asset types and often sell them to industry specialists.
US giant BNSF railway is owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, which also owns a host of other companies including Duracell, and with widespread investment interests including Apple and Coca Cola.

 

[Geogregor]

Colne Viaduct is progressing nicely, found this random shot on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/benjorama

Some good drone shots showing progress at Old Oak Common:

There will eventually be 8 tower cranes at Old Oak Common:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1541723335087759363

 

[Yindee8191]

Another progress update - as of the 27th of June the Long Itchington Wood TBM has travelled 1,250m and only has 230 to go. That’s only around 8 days at 30m per day so even allowing for more cautious driving at the end the breakthrough ought to be fairly soon. https://www.hs2.org.uk/in-your-area/map/#12/52.2563/-1.4226/filter=hs2-stations,hs2-network

 

[702]

Hi everyone, long time listener reader, first time poster here. I thought I'd post a couple of pictures I took at a distance in March, several thousand feet distance in fact, but they're interesting I think to see the scale of the construction.
The first shows Aylesbury at the lower centre right, and HS2 is clearly visible snaking from right to left, SE to NW. It doesn't look like construction over the river Thame, at the north end of Aylesbury, has begun yet. At the very top you can see Milton Keynes.


The second shows where HS2 will cross East-West Rail at Claydon. Continuing north along HS2, at the very left hand side, just as it leaves the image, you can see it between Brackley, and the big solar farm at Turweston Aerodrome to the east. For East-West Rail, Bicester is just off the left hand side, Milton Keynes is visible on the right, so most of that long section is visible (just) on here.


I hope these are clear!

 

[Mikey C]

Hi everyone, long time listener reader, first time poster here. I thought I'd post a couple of pictures I took at a distance in March, several thousand feet distance in fact, but they're interesting I think to see the scale of the construction.
The first shows Aylesbury at the lower centre right, and HS2 is clearly visible snaking from right to left, SE to NW. It doesn't look like construction over the river Thame, at the north end of Aylesbury, has begun yet. At the very top you can see Milton Keynes.
View attachment 117471

The second shows where HS2 will cross East-West Rail at Claydon. Continuing north along HS2, at the very left hand side, just as it leaves the image, you can see it between Brackley, and the big solar farm at Turweston Aerodrome to the east. For East-West Rail, Bicester is just off the left hand side, Milton Keynes is visible on the right, so most of that long section is visible (just) on here.
View attachment 117472

I hope these are clear!

Great photos. Last year I walked west from Aylesbury along the River Thame. The work had just started then, not that path is completely shut...

 

[Mollman]

Hi everyone, long time listener reader, first time poster here. I thought I'd post a couple of pictures I took at a distance in March, several thousand feet distance in fact, but they're interesting I think to see the scale of the construction.
The first shows Aylesbury at the lower centre right, and HS2 is clearly visible snaking from right to left, SE to NW. It doesn't look like construction over the river Thame, at the north end of Aylesbury, has begun yet. At the very top you can see Milton Keynes.
View attachment 117471

The second shows where HS2 will cross East-West Rail at Claydon. Continuing north along HS2, at the very left hand side, just as it leaves the image, you can see it between Brackley, and the big solar farm at Turweston Aerodrome to the east. For East-West Rail, Bicester is just off the left hand side, Milton Keynes is visible on the right, so most of that long section is visible (just) on here.
View attachment 117472

I hope these are clear!

Fantastic photos, thanks for posting

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Another progress update - as of the 27th of June the Long Itchington Wood TBM has travelled 1,250m and only has 230 to go. That’s only around 8 days at 30m per day so even allowing for more cautious driving at the end the breakthrough ought to be fairly soon. https://www.hs2.org.uk/in-your-area/map/#12/52.2563/-1.4226/filter=hs2-stations,hs2-network

An update posted today for July 4 shows progress at 1384m with only 96m left to go.
As that was a week ago, you'd think breakthrough must be imminent.

In your area map - HS2

Search our interactive In Your Area Map to find information about current or planned HS2 construction works taking place across the route.

www.hs2.org.uk

 

[DelW]

Hi everyone, long time listener reader, first time poster here. I thought I'd post a couple of pictures I took at a distance in March, several thousand feet distance in fact, but they're interesting I think to see the scale of the construction.
The first shows Aylesbury at the lower centre right, and HS2 is clearly visible snaking from right to left, SE to NW. It doesn't look like construction over the river Thame, at the north end of Aylesbury, has begun yet. At the very top you can see Milton Keynes.

The second shows where HS2 will cross East-West Rail at Claydon. Continuing north along HS2, at the very left hand side, just as it leaves the image, you can see it between Brackley, and the big solar farm at Turweston Aerodrome to the east. For East-West Rail, Bicester is just off the left hand side, Milton Keynes is visible on the right, so most of that long section is visible (just) on here.

I hope these are clear!

Welcome to the forum, those pics are fascinating. 15 to 20 years ago I used to fly between south east England and central Scotland most weeks for work, and on clear days I enjoyed picking out current and abandoned railways and other infrastructure works. Those photos almost made me wish I was still doing it (then I reminded myself that leaving home at 5am and getting back at 10pm isn't a great lifestyle).

 

[Sonik]

Hi everyone, long time listener reader, first time poster here. I thought I'd post a couple of pictures I took at a distance in March, several thousand feet distance in fact, but they're interesting I think to see the scale of the construction.
The first shows Aylesbury at the lower centre right, and HS2 is clearly visible snaking from right to left, SE to NW. It doesn't look like construction over the river Thame, at the north end of Aylesbury, has begun yet. At the very top you can see Milton Keynes.

The second shows where HS2 will cross East-West Rail at Claydon. Continuing north along HS2, at the very left hand side, just as it leaves the image, you can see it between Brackley, and the big solar farm at Turweston Aerodrome to the east. For East-West Rail, Bicester is just off the left hand side, Milton Keynes is visible on the right, so most of that long section is visible (just) on here.

I hope these are clear!

Great pictures and nice resolution - well worth a zoom to see the state of progress.

Interesting that much of HS2 route is still at preliminary stage with just a haul road; earthworks still to be started in earnest. Some of the earthworks in Warwickshire etc. seem to be a bit further on.

 

[najaB]

Interesting that much of HS2 route is still at preliminary stage with just a haul road; earthworks still to be started in earnest. Some of the earthworks in Warwickshire etc. seem to be a bit further on.

It may well turn out that in railways, much like DIY, a surprising amount of the work is prep work.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

It may well turn out that in railways, much like DIY, a surprising amount of the work is prep work.

Indeed, plenty of that around Tamworth/Lichfield and even south of Crewe at Chorlton

 

[The Ham]

It may well turn out that in railways, much like DIY, a surprising amount of the work is prep work.

There's an old rule of thumb for building a house 1/3 is for the foundations, 1/3 is the walls and 1/3 for the roof.

It's certainly true for roads that once you start laying down bound materials that you've already dug out the soil/built up your embankments, laid much of the drainage, laid the sub base (possibly on a capping layer), and so the laying of the base, binder and surface courses all (can) happen very quickly in comparison.

It's why those opposed to HS2 make much of the fact that not a single mile of track had been laid, as it makes it look like nothing's happening. When the reality is that there been a lot of works done.

 

[Yindee8191]

Great pictures and nice resolution - well worth a zoom to see the state of progress.

Interesting that much of HS2 route is still at preliminary stage with just a haul road; earthworks still to be started in earnest. Some of the earthworks in Warwickshire etc. seem to be a bit further on.

Definitely a lot still to be done. This summer really does seem to be the start of the earthworks in earnest though, a lot of progress update videos are showing cuttings being dug now, especially towards the northern end.

 

[TheHSRailFan]

Hey all,
I was in Birmingham on Tuesday to meet a friend and went via Chiltern. I forgot that we are beside the construction work north of Ruislip so I didn't take pictures when going up but did so going down. They are not perfect and half of them are pretty much useless thanks to their quality, but I have got some that are passable.

For the parts not pictured, it is noticeable they are constructing the bridges both over roads and bridges that will be rerouted over the Chiltern Main Line as well. There is a fair amount of construction going on, many parts you can easily know where the rail alignment will be. I've noticed they have been constructing the TBMs along the site in sections, some quite far from where the tunnel portal is. You do get a view of the box structure leading into that tunnel, however, it's difficult to take a picture.


One of the photos that were saved not of the TBMs is below. I believe they are constructing a bridge but its not that very intresting to look at, at the moment.

 

[snowball]

From NCE: HS2 timeline of major events to 2025 revealed

HS2 timeline of major events to 2025 revealed | New Civil Engineer

Set out by HS2 Phase 2 director Tim Smart at NCE’s Future of Rail conference, the milestones begin with the announcement of the winner of the contract for

www.newcivilengineer.com

HS2 Ltd has revealed the timeline for key contract awards and works up to 2025, which will see a large proportion of the construction for Phase 1 to Birmingham completed.
Set out by HS2 Phase 2 director Tim Smart at NCE’s Future of Rail conference, the milestones begin with the announcement of the winner of the contract for the construction of the eco-friendly Interchange station – which was awarded to Laing O’Rourke this week.

Moving forward, this August will see tunnelling begin at the Northolt twin-bored tunnels. The two TBMs arrived at the West Ruislip site last November, where SCS (Skanska Costain Strabag JV) have been preparing them for their 21km drives.

September will see the announcement of HS2 Ltd’s main design and delivery partner for Phase 2a – the 58km from Birmingham to Crewe. The shortlisted bidders for the £500M contract are 2 Connect (Aecom Costain JV), AMS (Atkins, Mace, Systra JV) and Jacobs.

By the end of the year, contractors will be invited to tender for the Phase 2a main works.

Early 2023 will see the completion of the Long Itchingdon Wood tunnel in Warwickshire – the first HS2 tunnel to be completed. TBM Dorothy is well on her way through the 1.6km drive, having been launched by BBV (Balfour Beatty Vinci JV) at the end of 2021.

Work to construct the new £570M Birmingham Curzon Street station will commence in February 2023. The net zero-operation station was designed by WSP and Grimshaw Architects and MDJV (Mace Dragados JV) has been appointed as construction partner. It will be the first brand new intercity terminus station built in Britain since the 19th century, and will sit alongside the original Curzon Street station, which will be refurbished for public interest.

March of 2023 will see the start of tunnelling on the Bromford tunnel in Warwickshire. This will take trains coming from Delta Junction at Water Orton towards Birmingham. Originally planned to be 2.8km, HS2 Ltd now intends to make it 5.7km long, reducing the need for complex engineering above ground in a built-up area and decreasing the number of homes and businesses that will be affected.

The contract for the construction of the Jacobs-Atkins designed Washwood Heath Depot will be awarded in October 2023. Located northeast of Birmingham city centre, it will be the main control centre for HS2. The shortlist for the construction contract, which is worth an estimated £275M, was announced last year and features Gülermak Ağır Sanayi İnşaat ve Taahhüt A Ş and Gulermak Sp z o.o.; Vinci and Keltbray and VolkerFitzpatrick and VolkerRail.

Euston tunnelling will commence in February 2024. One of the most ambitious sections of HS2, the 7.2km tunnel will run from the central London terminus of Euston, north-westerly beneath the city to the new Old Oak Common station, reaching 50m below ground at its deepest point. It is being constructed by SCS JV, who will start the tunnel approach work this summer, and will be lined with precast concrete segments made by Pacadar UK at their factory on the Isle of Grain in Kent. SCS JV was recently granted an extra £78M for the tunnelling costs.

Shortly after that, in March 2024, tunnelling through the Chilterns is due to complete. At 16km long, it is the longest tunnel on the route, and the 2,000t TBMs Florence and Cecilia have been designed specifically for the mix of chalk and flints under the Chilterns. Operated by Align (Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick JV), both have already been working their way through the Chiltern hills for over a year and completed the first phase up to Chalfont-St-Peter in March.

Another major milestone will occur in April 2024 with the completion of the west box at Old Oak Common. SB3 (Balfour Beatty Bachy Soletanche JV) has already been working to prepare the site for excavation of 1M.m3 of material to make space for the box. However, the installation of the 1.8km linear length diaphragm wall for the station box has been described by SB3 project director Carl Dunsire as an “utter nightmare”.

After launching in August 2022, the TBMs creating the 21km twin-bored Northolt tunnel will complete their drive two years later in August 2024. Tunnelling on the Bromford tunnel will reach its conclusion the following month.

Moving into 2025, construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct is expected to complete in May. At 3.4km, it is the longest viaduct on the route, and is being made of 1,000 unique pre-cast concrete elements. It is being constructed using a 700t launching girder known as Dominique, and Align JV kicked off the work in June.

Align JV will complete all of its work on HS2 in June 2025 and EKFB (Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial, Bam JV) will wrap up its work a few months later in September.

September 2025 will also see the completion of major interfaces with Network Rail infrastructure in Birmingham City Centre.


The full list of milestones is below.

2022

July
Start construction of Old Oak Common’s station for conventional trains
Contract award for interchange station

August
Tunnelling begins on Northolt tunnel

September
Contract award for Phase 2a design and delivery partner

October
Concept design completed for HS2 trains

December
Invitation to tender for HS2 main works
2023

January
Long Itchingdon Wood tunnelling complete
Contract award for railway track

February
Construction starts on Curzon Street station

March
Tunnelling starts on Bromford tunnel

May
Contract award for signalling systems

October
Contract award for Washwood Heath depot and systems control centre
All rail systems contracts awarded

2024

February
Tunnelling starts on Euston tunnel

March
Tunnelling complete on Chiltern tunnel

April
Old Oak Common west box complete

August
Tunnelling complete on Northolt tunnel

September
Tunnelling complete on Bromford tunnel

2025

May
Colne Valley Viaduct construction complete

June
Euston tunnel complete
Align JV completes work

September
EKFB JV completes work
Major Network Rail interfaces complete in Birmingham city centre

 

[david_g]

Another progress update - as of the 27th of June the Long Itchington Wood TBM has travelled 1,250m and only has 230 to go. That’s only around 8 days at 30m per day so even allowing for more cautious driving at the end the breakthrough ought to be fairly soon. https://www.hs2.org.uk/in-your-area/map/#12/52.2563/-1.4226/filter=hs2-stations,hs2-network

Word on the street locally is that there are 2m to go now.

 

[NLC1072]

Colne Viaduct is progressing nicely, found this random shot on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/benjorama

Some good drone shots showing progress at Old Oak Common:

There will eventually be 8 tower cranes at Old Oak Common:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1541723335087759363

Thank you for featuring my HS2 Old Oak Common video, I'm off out today to take some more video as it proved quite popular!

 

[snowball]

Word on the street locally is that there are 2m to go now.

That post was 3 days ago. You'd have thought there would have been a breakthrough by now. Perhaps they're organising for the media to be there for it.

 

[david_g]

That post was 3 days ago. You'd have thought there would have been a breakthrough by now. Perhaps they're organising for the media to be there for it.

I was told they were going to change the cutters (if I understood correctly) for breaking through the concrete in the receiving box before proceeding. Maybe a tidy up to look good in the inevitable photos.

 

[Roast Veg]

I was told they were going to change the cutters (if I understood correctly) for breaking through the concrete in the receiving box before proceeding. Maybe a tidy up to look good in the inevitable photos.

As long as they reusing the "camera ready" head on another TBM later!

 

[snowball]

As long as they reusing the "camera ready" head on another TBM later!

The first need for re-use is likely to be on the same TBM on the second bore alongside.

 

[Roast Veg]

The first need for re-use is likely to be on the same TBM on the second bore alongside.

No qualms from me then!

 

[david_g]

Yes, the cutting head will be roaded round to cut the second bore. Moving in September according to my informant; the move involves temporary raising/removal of several overhead cables and I wouldn’t want to be using the Fosse that day

 

[najaB]

That post was 3 days ago. You'd have thought there would have been a breakthrough by now. Perhaps they're organising for the media to be there for it.

Or maybe they've gone 10m, not broken through and are busily re-checking the plans!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Yes, the cutting head will be roaded round to cut the second bore. Moving in September according to my informant; the move involves temporary raising/removal of several overhead cables and I wouldn’t want to be using the Fosse that day

And when it's finished doing the second bore at Long Itchington, according to a Modern Railways piece on HS2 it will then be reassembled to bore the second bore of the 6km Bromford Tunnel on the Curzon St branch.

 

[gingertom]

And when it's finished doing the second bore at Long Itchington, according to a Modern Railways piece on HS2 it will then be reassembled to bore the second bore of the 6km Bromford Tunnel on the Curzon St branch.

getting their (our) money's worth out of it. Good to see these assets getting used to the max. Almost as if there's a plan...

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Does anyone here know if the HS2 line passes through Greenford? A colleague said recently that Royal Mail contested (and lost) Compulsory Purchase Orders that would see Kilburn Delivery Office and Greenford Mail Centre demolished. He claimed that the line was originally to be on the surface near Greenford, but will now be in tunnel with ventilation shafts necessitating the vacating of the area where the Mail Cenre currently stands

 

[Nottingham59]

Does anyone here know if the HS2 line passes through Greenford? A colleague said recently that Royal Mail contested (and lost) Compulsory Purchase Orders that would see Kilburn Delivery Office and Greenford Mail Centre demolished. He claimed that the line was originally to be on the surface near Greenford, but will now be in tunnel with ventilation shafts necessitating the vacating of the area where the Mail Cenre currently stands

The original idea was to route HS2 via Greenford on the surface, using the Acton to Northolt line, but quite early on it was decided to put HS2 into tunnels, following the same alignment but underground with ventilation shafts. So it will pass directly under Greenford station.

See https://www.hs2.org.uk/in-your-area/map/#17/51.5439/-0.3512/filter=hs2-stations,hs2-network