HS2 and Network Rail Advance Construction on Landmark 14-Platform Old Oak Common Super-Hub Station in West London

The Largest Brand-New Subsurface Railway Interchange in Modern British History

LONDON, Greater London — In one of the most consequential civil engineering feats in the United Kingdom, HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, and principal delivery joint venture Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA (BBVS) have achieved crucial structural construction milestones on the monumental Old Oak Common Station in West London. Functioning as the grand central super-hub for High Speed 2, the multi-level transit complex represents the largest brand-new railway station ever constructed in the UK in a single building phase.

The scale of subterranean engineering at Old Oak Common is unprecedented: workers have fully excavated the monolithic 850-metre-long station box, extracting over 1.3 million tonnes of London Clay from a cavern equivalent in volume to 6,300 Olympic swimming pools. Reaching depths of up to 20 metres below ground level, the cavern is now taking shape as the underground terminus for six dedicated high-speed rail platforms, shielded by robust reinforced concrete retaining walls and deep foundation piles.

Transforming Travel Between London, Heathrow, and the West Midlands

Engineered to process more than 250,000 passengers daily, Old Oak Common will feature 14 passenger platforms in total, serving as an unrivalled multimodal transit nexus. Six high-speed underground platforms will accommodate 400-metre-long HS2 trainsets operating to Birmingham and the North, while eight surface-level platforms will serve the Elizabeth Line, Heathrow Express, and Great Western Main Line services.

This seamless platform-to-platform connectivity allows commuters and international travelers to bypass overcrowded central London terminal stations such as Paddington and Euston. Passengers arriving from the West Midlands will be able to transfer directly to the Elizabeth Line at Old Oak Common, reaching London Heathrow Airport in roughly 10 minutes, the West End in 10 minutes, and the City of London and Canary Wharf in less than 20 minutes.

Architectural Engineering and Net-Zero BREEAM Outstanding Design

Designed by world-renowned architects WilkinsonEyre, Old Oak Common Station is capped by a monumental arched glass-and-steel atrium concourse inspired by Britain’s iconic Victorian railway heritage. The soaring roof spans over 44,000 square metres, incorporating integrated photovoltaic solar arrays that generate clean on-site electricity for station escalators, digital wayfinding, and climate control.

Engineered to achieve the prestigious BREEAM 'Outstanding' sustainability certification, the facility utilizes passive ventilation to eliminate artificial cooling demand throughout the main concourse, rainwater harvesting systems for non-potable sanitation, and ground-source heat pumps. More than 50 high-capacity lifts and escalators ensure 100 percent step-free accessibility from street level to all 14 subterranean and surface platforms.

Unlocking 25,000 New Homes Across the Old Oak and Park Royal Opportunity Area

Transport for London (TfL) and the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) underscored that Old Oak Common is the fundamental catalyst for the UK’s largest urban brownfield regeneration initiative. Encompassing over 650 hectares of former industrial rail yards across the London Boroughs of Ealing, Brent, and Hammersmith & Fulham, the master plan is actively unlocking up to 25,000 brand-new sustainable homes and supporting 65,000 high-value jobs.

By weaving high-speed rail, suburban mass transit, active cycle superhighways, and new waterfront public parks along the Grand Union Canal, Old Oak Common Station anchors a thriving, low-carbon metropolitan district that will drive London’s economy for generations.