HS2 Old Oak Common

[stuving]

Were you were wondering how the front of a TBM, with its cutter head over 9 m in diameter, would fit down the Victoria Road Ancillary Shaft of 2.5 m diameter? Well no, it's not magic, just a typo: the shaft is actually 25 m across. As to why the words say that second TBM is to be assembled in the Ancillary Shaft and in the Crossover Box, that's another matter. I'd guess most of it will be assembled then pushed trough the SCL tunnel, and just the head will be bolted on the the Ancillary Shaft.

 

[Class 170101]

As I understand it, the tunnels which start boring at/near the OOC site will be supplied from Willesden with local transfer to the TBMs, using segments produced by STRABAG at Hartlepool.
That will cover the Northolt East (5.5km) and Euston tunnels (7.2km) - when they start.
Northolt West (8km, under construction) is supplied from West Ruislip, with segments delivered from Pacadar (Isle of Grain) by rail.
Bromford tunnel (5.5km), on the Birmingham branch, will use segments manufactured in Avonmouth, which I believe will be delivered by road to site.

Geoff Marshall has been on a Grain to West Ruislip train carrying HS2 tunnel segments, published in recent days.

 

[Snow1964]

Not sure which is best HS2 thread for this update, as dont have a HS2 stations thread and this also covers Euston, Birmingham Curzon St, Birmingham Interchange

Seems Siemens have won £47m contract for station electricals: energy management, control, customer info, fire etc

This procurement is for the establishment of a single supplier Framework Agreement for the design and supply of six station building systems primarily for the new HS2 Phase One Stations to be constructed in London at Euston and Old Oak Common and in the Midlands at Birmingham Curzon Street and Interchange.

The six station building systems include:
• The Public Address / Voice Alarm (PAVA) system to enable the distribution of audible evacuation and operational information within the station.
• The Fire Detection and Alarm System to detect fires and raise the alarm in the event of an emergency.
• The Building Energy Management System (BEMS) to provide centralised monitoring of alarms, activities and maintenance prompts for systems throughout the station.
• The Lighting Control System to provide the minimum safe illumination of the public and back of house areas for the station.
• The Customer Information System (CIS) to enable delivery of information to customers and staff within the station.
• The Station Information Management System (SIMS) to provide local operational control and management of all aspects associated with passenger information and security, station services, including all fixed Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) and emergency situations.

The Framework Agreement will be used by HS2 Ltd (Professional Services Call-Off Contract for Systems Functional Specification, Reference Design and Demonstration) and used by the Phase One Station Contractors (Design and Supply Call-Off Contracts with an option to call off Engineering Services (Optional Scope) to undertake any of the installation, testing, commissioning, integration, bringing into service and other activities associated with the construction of the Station Specific Design) and will be used by the other Contracting Bodies defined in the included in the PQP documentation.

Child Mainstream [Award]

Child Mainstream... A Contract Award Notice by Surrey County Council. Value £21K.

bidstats.uk

Seems they are wise to the Elizabeth line and Jubilee line delays, where opening was held up by electrical work not being done quickly

 

[bib]

Lengthy video discussing Old oak common progress with some good drone footage. The depth of excavation appears to be quite variable along the length of the box. Some nice views of the spoil extraction system and wagons being loaded up.

There's also one for Euston, which doesn't seem to have it's own thread yet, not as much to see apart from all the ground that has been flattened.

 

[Meole]

Euston is surely mothballed for a decade or so ?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Euston is surely mothballed for a decade or so ?

A decade? Well the area is being made safe for the rephrasing of works yes, but the works for the underground station will still be continuing so it's not like the entire site will be void of activity. (once made safe)

 

[Sonik]

Euston is surely mothballed for a decade or so ?

Euston is right in the middle of Keir Starmer's constituency, so the increasingly likely possibility of a change of government could easily result in a change of policy

 

[HSTEd]

Euston is right in the middle of Keir Starmer's constituency, so the increasingly likely possibility of a change of government could easily result in a change of policy

To axing Euston entirely?

Construction is unlikely to be popular with the constituents

 

[Bald Rick]

Construction is unlikely to be popular with the constituents

Whilst true for some constituents, many more welcome the construction because of the employment opportunities, both directly and with local business servicing the large number of direct workers.

The bit that was most unpopular the local constituents was the land take and demolition that went with it. That’s happened.

 

[kevin_roche]

Whilst true for some constituents, many more welcome the construction because of the employment opportunities, both directly and with local business servicing the large number of direct workers.

The bit that was most unpopular the local constituents was the land take and demolition that went with it. That’s happened.

While true, it wouldn't matter if something else was built instead.

 

[Bald Rick]

While true, it wouldn't matter if something else was built instead.

Which would, presumably, be equally unpopular with constituents if it was the construction process itself that was unpopular.

 

[chris2]

Interesting engineering update on Old Oak Common construction.

 

[Sonik]

To axing Euston entirely?

Construction is unlikely to be popular with the constituents

A big issue is the very large linear construction site in the middle of a dense urban area.

One of the design goals of the new station was to allow much better public access across the rail corridor through the station (for locals and not just passengers) and improvement of public realm with parks, open spaces etc.

As it stands, the huge largely empty site splits the local area in two, with a very long journey around the site to get past it.

Albeit construction is disruptive, leaving this massive site for an extended period in the part built state is likely to prove even less popular with the locals

 

[matacaster]

There was a big hole in Bradford town centre for at least 10 years, it was unsightly, even when they built a mall there it was completely out of keeping with Victorian surroundings. It was up north so no one cares. If the Chilterns had been up north, there wouldn't be any HS2 tunnels. It's unfortunate for Euston residents and shopkeepers, but frankly it's not the end of the world and maybe London should take it's share of downsides like the rest of the country.

 

[Some guy]

It’s absolutely bonkers if it don’t make it to Euston. There’s no incentive to travel HS2 if it only takes you Old Oak Common meaning you’ll have to change again to get to central London

 

[BrianW]

There was a big hole in Bradford town centre for at least 10 years, it was unsightly, even when they built a mall there it was completely out of keeping with Victorian surroundings. It was up north so no one cares. If the Chilterns had been up north, there wouldn't be any HS2 tunnels. It's unfortunate for Euston residents and shopkeepers, but frankly it's not the end of the world and maybe London should take it's share of downsides like the rest of the country.

I agree- a taste of levelling down.

It’s absolutely bonkers if it don’t make it to Euston. There’s no incentive to travel HS2 if it only takes you Old Oak Common meaning you’ll have to change again to get to central London

Is Euston 'central London'? Others have sought to indicate the ease of access of OOC to/from various 'central Londons'. IIUC it (EDIT-OOC) is located in what is currently Zone 2- the only 'London terminal' (if it is to be so designated) outside zone 1. There are many buses at Euston , and indeed much of London can be reached on foot from there; those central destinations are a fair old step from OOC!

EDIT- for clarity I mean that OOC is in Zone 2; Euston is rightly in Zone1

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is Euston 'central London'? Others have sought to indicate the ease of access of OOC to/from various 'central Londons'. IIUC it is located in what is currently Zone 2- the only 'London terminal' (if it is to be so designated) outside zone 1. There are many buses at Euston , and indeed much of London can be reached on foot from there; those central destinations are a fair old step from OOC!

It's better than Euston if you're going to anywhere directly served by the Elizabeth Line. Otherwise it's considerably worse - a lot of people continue from Euston by bus, on foot, by taxi or by bike ("Sadiq cycle" or their own left in the racks there) - all of those people would lose.

Euston, like most London termini, is on the edge of central London, yes. Paddington is the one I'd say wasn't - it's a long way west - and Fenchurch St actually is in the City rather than on its edge. Unlike most cities in the UK, Central London is quite big, though much wider (east-west) than it is high (north-south).

 

[Flying Phil]

Post #210 was very interesting as it highlighted the use of "tension piles". I had always thought that piles were to spread the compression loads caused by the weight of the structure. However I now realise that, for hollow structures, the forces are upthrust due to the ground water etc being greater than the weight of the structure ie it is "floating" and needs to be held down in place....fascinating.

 

[endicomark69@g]

There was a big hole in Bradford town centre for at least 10 years, it was unsightly, even when they built a mall there it was completely out of keeping with Victorian surroundings. It was up north so no one cares. If the Chilterns had been up north, there wouldn't be any HS2 tunnels. It's unfortunate for Euston residents and shopkeepers, but frankly it's not the end of the world and maybe London should take it's share of downsides like the rest of the country.

Right you are G'Vnor, and what colour would you like the inconvenience to be?

 

[mr_jrt]

Is Euston 'central London'? Others have sought to indicate the ease of access of OOC to/from various 'central Londons'. IIUC it is located in what is currently Zone 2- the only 'London terminal' (if it is to be so designated) outside zone 1. There are many buses at Euston , and indeed much of London can be reached on foot from there; those central destinations are a fair old step from OOC!

I would imagine it'll be a London terminal much like Vauxhall - probably boundary zone 1+2 when it opens.

 

[12LDA28C]

I agree- a taste of levelling down.

Is Euston 'central London'? Others have sought to indicate the ease of access of OOC to/from various 'central Londons'. IIUC it is located in what is currently Zone 2- the only 'London terminal' (if it is to be so designated) outside zone 1. There are many buses at Euston , and indeed much of London can be reached on foot from there; those central destinations are a fair old step from OOC!

Euston is in Zone 1.

 

[CW2]

The vast majority of people travelling into Euston continue their journeys by changing to Tube or bus. So changing at Old Oak Common instead of Euston isn't a great issue. It's only an issue if / when the journey involves multiple changes of transport modes.

 

[BrianW]

Euston is in Zone 1.

Thank you12LDA29C; you are right. I meant that OOC is in Zone 2, and have edited my posting accordingly. Brian

 

[12LDA28C]

Thank you12LDA29C; you are right. I meant that OOC is in Zone 2, and have edited my posting accordingly. Brian

Ah, I may well have misunderstood, apologies.

 

[MontyP]

The vast majority of people travelling into Euston continue their journeys by changing to Tube or bus. So changing at Old Oak Common instead of Euston isn't a great issue. It's only an issue if / when the journey involves multiple changes of transport modes.

I suspect that this is true for some people, but not for most. It would need a comprehensive analysis of journey patterns, available transport links (both current and planned at OOC) and journey times to understand this.

Just thinking about some of the key destinations for people arriving from the Midlands / North at either Euston or OOC, my back of a fag packet analysis is as follow:
- West End of London for nightlife (e.g. Leicester Sq) - Euston is better but Elizabeth Line goes to Tott Ct Road which is reasonably handy
- Bloomsbury for the tourist hotels - Euston is walking distance
- Whitehall / Westminster for government offices - Euston is much better, tube to either Charing X or Victoria. Would require an extra change from OOC
- City (Bank / Moorgate) - both will be on a direct service
- Canary Wharf - OOC will be direct on Elizabeth Line, Euston requires a change at Bank onto DLR or London Bridge onto Jubilee Line
- Heathrow - OOC is better
- Gatwick - slightly longer from OOC but both require a change (or a walk at Euston, to pick up Thameslink at KXStP)
- other mainline terminals - Euston is better connected

So I'd say for the majority of journey types, Euston is noticeably better.

 

[BrianW]

Ah, I may well have misunderstood, apologies.

Apology not needed; I should have been clearer- the dangers of the 'Post Reply'- at least less dangerous than the 'red button' referred to in another thread.

 

[matacaster]

The vast majority of people travelling into Euston continue their journeys by changing to Tube or bus. So changing at Old Oak Common instead of Euston isn't a great issue. It's only an issue if / when the journey involves multiple changes of transport modes.

Agreed. Long distance passengers might be going to Heathrow, museums in South Kensington, Knightsbridge, but unlikely to call me to London to stay in Euston. Some might want to go on Eurostar, but Euston isn't great for that if you are walking and have luggage.
Changing at OOC wouldn't bother me as long as the trains were on time and seating is more comparable to that in cars.

 

[camflyer]

Agreed. Long distance passengers might be going to Heathrow, museums in South Kensington, Knightsbridge, but unlikely to call me to London to stay in Euston. Some might want to go on Eurostar, but Euston isn't great for that if you are walking and have luggage.
Changing at OOC wouldn't bother me as long as the trains were on time and seating is more comparable to that in cars.

Of course that requires sufficient capacity on other forms of transport to take people from OOC onwards

 

[Tramtrain]

Couldn’t a connection be built at OOC to the West London Line to allow trains access down to Waterloo, terminating at the old Eurostar platforms?

 

[SynthD]

Couldn’t a connection be built at OOC to the West London Line to allow trains access down to Waterloo, terminating at the old Eurostar platforms?

No, for the same reason as every other connection question. HS2 is 40m underground at OOC. And those platforms are heavily used domestically.