29 Nov Work begins on station box at HS2 Old Oak Common
Expanded has started work on the 850m-long station box at HS2’s Old Oak Common site.
Expanded was appointed by Balfour Beatty, Vinci Systra joint venture (BBVS) to deliver the structure that will create the frame and base for the HS2 station.
Work will include excavating 20m below ground level to 690,000 cubic metres of clay, before installing 32,000 tonnes of steel and 190,000 cubic tonnes of reinforced concrete.
The station box will allow tunnel boring machines to be launched towards Euston.
The construction work will create more than 2,000 jobs, including apprenticeships, and kickstart the largest regeneration project in the UK.
Station designs include six high-speed underground platforms with connection to the conventional station via a split-level concourse. Old Oak Common will provide high-speed rail services to the Midlands, the North and Scotland as well as connections to Heathrow, Wales and the West of England.
Rob Avery, Deputy Project Client for Old Oak Common at HS2, said: “The start of work on the gigantic station box structure is a key milestone for the team at Old Oak Common. Work is progressing well on site and we are pleased that Expanded have now joined us on site as the programme continues to move forward.”
Peter Lyons, Business Unit Leader at Expanded, said: “The award of this contract builds on our extensive experience in the rail sector, especially in London and will see us work on another HS2 project where we have previously delivered bridges utilising our modular bridges capabilities.
“We are proud to be joining forces with the BBVS joint venture in delivering the main station box. We began pre-construction works in May and the team are pleased to have now started this mammoth task.”
Nigel Russell, Project Director at BBVS, said: “We are pleased to be working with Expanded on the delivery of the station box, which represents an integral part of Old Oak Common Station.
“The reinforced concrete box will form the frame and base for the new state of the art HS2 station building as well as the six underground high-speed platforms.”