HS2 Old Oak Common

[Horizon22]

But the WLL is the important one, connecting to Clapham and south London.
Which interchanges are similar even to the NLL trudge?

Well it would be one stop from Willesden Junction.

 

[Meerkat]

Well it would be one stop from Willesden Junction.

So change at Clapham, then change at Willesden, then trudge outside to OOC?
May as well Tube it to Euston. Or drive…..

 

[Nottingham59]

For info, these are the only proposals for Eastern access, but as far as I can tell both the pedestrian bridge and the road connection are not (yet?) included in the final design.

From: https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-ar...oration-opdc/decisions/60658?ac-136129=136127

A 2021 Q&A states:
"34. Is there any access from Scrubs Lane / the east of the site?
OPDC are investigating the feasibility of a cycle and pedestrian link across the Grand Union
Canal to create an access from Scrubs Lane to the east of the site. HS2 will continue to
discuss this proposal with OPDC as plans develop."

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Old-Oak-Common-Urban-Realm-Design-Engagement-Event-QAs.pdf

 

[RGM654]

If they build a new station on either line, I would expect at least a covered pedestrian walkway to the main OOC station, crossong over intervening roads and canals.

(But otherwise, I agree with you. The whole area between Old Oak Common and Willesden Junction should have been designed as a proper West London interchange from the start)

And if they had never closed and dismantled the main line platforms at Willesden Junction …

 

[BrianW]

And if they had never closed and dismantled the main line platforms at Willesden Junction …

But they did, for what were presumably good reasons at the time. Again presumably, if there were a perceived need now its feasibility could be considered.

 

[crablab]

There's now some track at the very West of the site being laid out parallel to the GWML.
More visible rebar is going up above the surface, and the TBM at the east continues to be gradually assembled.

I took some photos. Sorry for the poor quality & motion blur.

 

[SynthD]

The most recent construction document suggests there will be public update on Old Oak Common Lane in next few months (Spring 2025). See attached.

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Old-Oak-Common-Lane-Newsletter-November-2024.pdf

West London Orbital

4.13 We continue to work jointly with the West London Alliance and west London
boroughs on developing and making the case for this proposed new London
Overground route, which would link Hendon and Hounslow via Old Oak
Common. A major opportunity associated with the scheme is to help ensure that
High Speed 2 (HS2) is successful at Old Oak Common, including integration
with a potential new station on the Mildmay line. The current EFC for the
scheme is approximately £800m (2023 prices) and, subject to funding and other
third party dependencies, could potentially open in 2034.

4.14 We have completed the initial feasibility for the scheme and the best performing
option currently emerging is for a new six trains per hour London Overground
service between Hendon and Hounslow (four trains per hour end to end and two
trains per hour Hendon to Old Oak Common Lane).

From page 154 of the Programmes and Investment Committee - Wednesday 5 March 2025 agenda.

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/pic-20250305-progammes-and-investment-committee.pdf

EFC is estimated final cost. I wish these documents would say more about funding, what's the progress, who are they asking? Is this in HS2's budget?

 

[Railwaysceptic]

From page 154 of the Programmes and Investment Committee - Wednesday 5 March 2025 agenda.

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/pic-20250305-progammes-and-investment-committee.pdf

EFC is estimated final cost. I wish these documents would say more about funding, what's the progress, who are they asking? Is this in HS2's budget?

If TfL's finances were as robust as they were when Boris Johnson was Mayor - and I am not by any stretch of the imagination an admirer of that self-serving narcissist - I'd suggest London should stump up the £800 million. By TfL's finances have been ruined . . . .

 

[stuu]

EFC is estimated final cost. I wish these documents would say more about funding, what's the progress, who are they asking? Is this in HS2's budget?

Funding won't be a matter for the investment committee. The £800m is for the whole West London Orbital scheme, it absolutely won't be in HS2's budget

 

[Bald Rick]

I wish these documents would say more about funding, what's the progress, who are they asking? Is this in HS2's budget?

There isn’t any funding - if there was it would say so! It is definitley not in HS2s budget and wouldn’t be.

 

[InTheEastMids]

There is coverage from the Standard about a property boom around Old Oak being catalysed by the new stations for HS2 and GWR. I am not sure there is much new news for people following the wider development of the Old Oak/Park Royal area, but seems like a good summary to those of us that aren't. There may also be a touch of "well they would say that wouldn't they?", given HS2 has quite a strong interest in promoting the investment and growth enabled by the project.

MSN

A report commissioned by HS2 and published on Tuesday estimates that the line will boost economic development in the area by £10bn over the next decade.

Planning applications in the 1.5-mile radius around the station site have increased by 22 per cent since Royal Assent for HS2 was granted in 2017.

 

[swt_passenger]

There is coverage from the Standard about a property boom around Old Oak being catalysed by the new stations for HS2 and GWR. I am not sure there is much new news for people following the wider development of the Old Oak/Park Royal area, but seems like a good summary to those of us that aren't. There may also be a touch of "well they would say that wouldn't they?", given HS2 has quite a strong interest in promoting the investment and growth enabled by the project.

MSN

There’s an HS2 video on the same subject so I think I’ll link it directly:

 

[Topological]

It is almost inevitable that this would happen to any location on HS2, especially given the other connections OOC has.

Would have been good if they had thought to do similar with a location in Birmigham, Manchester, Leeds and others. Might have given some slightly higher benefits to offset the costs.

I have always believed that OOC will become an obvious stop for most trains (including our South Wales GWR).

It is not inevitable that this particular site would have grown over other locations a similar distance from London absent of the HS2 development.

 

[InTheEastMids]

Would have been good if they had thought to do similar with a location in Birmigham

There's a huge amount of development happening around Birmingham Interchange. Search for Arden Cross.
Central Birmingham Framework 2045 outlines the plans around Curzon Street (and indeed the whole of Central Birmingham). You'd expect HS2 to catalyse regeneration in Digbeth in particular.

These kinds of plans have a shorter lead-time than a railway, so private developers can wait until the railway has got past the point of no return, and reasonable certainty about opening date before committing to investments. Nobody sensible is going to believe Government plans when they can't control the project and might cancel it for applause and retweets.

 

[Meerkat]

There is coverage from the Standard about a property boom around Old Oak being catalysed by the new stations for HS2 and GWR. I am not sure there is much new news for people following the wider development of the Old Oak/Park Royal area, but seems like a good summary to those of us that aren't. There may also be a touch of "well they would say that wouldn't they?", given HS2 has quite a strong interest in promoting the investment and growth enabled by the project.

MSN

A mile and a half includes all of North Acton‘s massive high rises, which I reckon have more to do with Acton being on the Lizzie Line than HS2

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 has published update regarding the heavy lifter crane that arrived 12 March.

Following the arrival of our new heavy lifter crane, on Wednesday 12 March, we will be lifting the jib section to the new heavy lifter crane.

The jib will be lifted by a mobile crane which is already on site. Due to the lift’s considerable size, in the interests of staff safety, this operation will take place at 6:00am.

Not sure if this is the one lowering the Euston TBMs or something else, as map shows TC5b which I guess is a Tower crane

Update notice of tower crane works at Old Oak Common

Following the arrival of our new heavy lifter crane, on Wednesday 12 March, we will be lifting the jib section to the new heavy lifter crane. The jib will be lifted by a mobile crane which is already on site. Due to the lift’s considerable size, in the interests of staff safety, this operation...

www.hs2.org.uk

 

[Geogregor]

HS2 has published update regarding the heavy lifter crane that arrived 12 March.



Not sure if this is the one lowering the Euston TBMs or something else, as map shows TC5b which I guess is a Tower crane

Update notice of tower crane works at Old Oak Common

Following the arrival of our new heavy lifter crane, on Wednesday 12 March, we will be lifting the jib section to the new heavy lifter crane. The jib will be lifted by a mobile crane which is already on site. Due to the lift’s considerable size, in the interests of staff safety, this operation...

www.hs2.org.uk

I think the Euston TBMs were already lowered to the station box. They might need new crane for heavier steel components of the station building

 

[stuving]

This looks like the bid notice for supplying this crane and three more. The requirement is for:

Scope of Work: The Subcontract works is to provide a minimum of 4 no. heavy lifting tower cranes across the Old Oak Common (OOC) Station Site. The scope of works includes, but is not limited to, the provision of all necessary People, Equipment, Plant and Materials and execution of all stages from design, supply, mobilization, installation (including all lifting activities), operational commissioning, operation, maintenance & demobilization of all cranes. Cranes are required to carry out lifting activities with maximum reach of 65-70m from tower crane position. It is estimated that the heaviest lifts, consisting of spliced steel beams will range from 15T to 24T (not including lift & tackle weights) at distances of 50m to 65m. The cranes are to over sail the station's structure which will be approx. 25m above the cranes' foundation level. Due to the rail interfaces, the cranes will be operating with a de-rated by 25% capacity and are expected to be luffing Jib cranes. Access routes to site need to be carefully considered due to 79T weight limit of a bridge on route to the site's location.

Programme: All cranes are required to be operational by January 2025 and the duration of the hire period is expected to be 2-3 years. Installation dates will be dictated by the solutions presented by the supplier and requirement or not to work under a possession regime for the neighboring live rail lines.

According to this from pbctoday, the chosen solution uses only three cranes, two of which are very big:

The world’s largest luffing cranes, Marr Contracting’s M2480D, are set to work on HS2 to commence work on Old Oak Common station​

Marr Contracting have been awarded the contract to work on Old Oak Common with the M2480D, the world’s largest luffing cranes.
...
Marr have developed a three-crane solution intended to minimise clutter at the site and mitigate complexity.

The contract will see two M2480D luffing cranes, the world’s largest luffing cranes and capable of lifting 330-tonnes, as well as a M860DX capable of lifting 96-tonnes.

These will obviously be used in building the station. This is a new contract, separate from the one that's been building the holes the station will be built in. That had eight two cranes, some - all? - of which have been taken down already.

 

[Geogregor]

This looks like the bid notice for supplying this crane and three more. The requirement is for:

According to this from pbctoday, the chosen solution uses only three cranes, two of which are very big:

These will obviously be used in building the station. This is a new contract, separate from the one that's been building the holes the station will be built in. That had eight two cranes, some - all? - of which have been taken down already.

Thanks for finding that out, very interesting info.

 

[Railwaysceptic]

To my great surprise, it seems that TfL and London Overground have decided that a station on the North London Line providing access to Old Oak Common is essential after all, and that this will require substantial work in the area including four tracking the Acton Wells Junction formation. This new video . . . .

. . . gives a fairly detailed explanation. A word of warning to those with hearing difficulties: the sound level varies constantly and some people will have problems.

 

[Bald Rick]

Great to see my old chum Mr Mansfield!

It does show how much work goes onto feasibility of proposals like this - the presentation is necessarily only the tip of the iceberg of the work that has been done, and this is only the intial feasibility - no design work yet or consultation or envirnomental work etc.

 

[Class 170101]

It does show how much work goes onto feasibility of proposals like this - the presentation is necessarily only the tip of the iceberg of the work that has been done, and this is only the intial feasibility - no design work yet or consultation or envirnomental work etc.

Surprised you say that, it seemed rather detailed to me and reference the comments about a 'Forest' at SW sidings and how much needs to be replaced elsewhere (120% was it?) reminds me of the bat tunnel on HS2.

 

[Bald Rick]

Surprised you say that, it seemed rather detailed to me and reference the comments about a 'Forest' at SW sidings and how much needs to be replaced elsewhere (120% was it?) reminds me of the bat tunnel on HS2.

Nope, this is feasibility, not design. There may have been environmental scoping, but no detailed studies yet.

 

[RGM654]

To my great surprise, it seems that TfL and London Overground have decided that a station on the North London Line providing access to Old Oak Common is essential after all, and that this will require substantial work in the area including four tracking the Acton Wells Junction formation. This new video . . . .

. . . gives a fairly detailed explanation. A word of warning to those with hearing difficulties: the sound level varies constantly and some people will have problems.

Right at the start the sound level is OK but Mansfield speaks too fast and articulates very poorly. I think the sound is also compressed (in the sense of number of bits rather than dynamic compression). I would be interested but I am giving up.

 

[Railwaysceptic]

Right at the start the sound level is OK but Mansfield speaks too fast and articulates very poorly. I think the sound is also compressed (in the sense of number of bits rather than dynamic compression). I would be interested but I am giving up.

I suspect you will not be the only person to give up, which is a pity because many people would find the presentation interesting.

 

[Verulamius]

I suspect you will not be the only person to give up, which is a pity because many people would find the presentation interesting.

The presentation slides are available https://www.thepwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/West-London-Orbital-Railway_D-Mansfield.pdf

I have quoted some of the relevant items for OOC.

Old Oak Common Lane – two new side
platforms plus a north-facing bay platform,
with entrance via east-west bridge to be
delivered by OPDC providing interchange to
Old Oak Common HS2/Elizabeth line station
and North Acton station on the Central line

A site to accommodate the 11 new trains required to operate the service is needed
• A detailed review of all potential sites has been undertaken with Willesden South West Sidings the only viable option identified, with potential to also utilise additional available capacity at Wembley C sidings
• These are overgrown sidings in Network Rail ownership that have not been used for around 30 years, on a long lease to DB Cargo located between Willesden Jn and Old Oak Common.
• The sidings will need to be completely reconfigured including a new access bridge over the Grand Union Canal
• The Old Oak and Park Royal
Development Corporation (OPDC) has development aspirations for the site, so we have explored adjustments to the design that would facilitate some development

The WLO route is complex with several interfaces and opportunities.
• At Old Oak Common, the WLO station can be delivered independently of HS2 and the Elizabeth line station, but:
− There are challenges with providing a high quality interchange
− Complex interfaces with HS2 infrastructure including construction close to tunnels and high voltage cable diversions
• WLO would help ensure the success of HS2, particularly in its early stages, by providing connectivity to Old Oak Common for large swathes of west and northwest London,
and parts of Surrey, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire

 

[Martin23230]

The presentation slides are available https://www.thepwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/West-London-Orbital-Railway_D-Mansfield.pdf

I have quoted some of the relevant items for OOC.

Notably slide 24 shows plans for the Acton Wells Junction area, including platforms on the Dudding Hill line and an island on the West London line, as well as two possible bridge options. I've done my best to overlay the positions below:



Obviously very early designs, but I do hope the bridge would continue over OOC Lane - ideally with a covered walkway all the way to the main HS2 station.

 

[Horizon22]

It is almost inevitable that this would happen to any location on HS2, especially given the other connections OOC has.

It is not inevitable that this particular site would have grown over other locations a similar distance from London absent of the HS2 development.

Old Oak Common was always planned to be a huge area of redevelopment alongside HS2. It's not coincidental at all.

 

[Topological]

Old Oak Common was always planned to be a huge area of redevelopment alongside HS2. It's not coincidental at all.

I think my post says that?

Had HS2 not happened then more likely is OOC would have developed like any other district a few stops from London. With HS2 OOC is going to grow much faster than other locations a similar distance from London.

Unless I am misinterpreting your "alongside".

 

[chris2]

Notably slide 24 shows plans for the Acton Wells Junction area, including platforms on the Dudding Hill line and an island on the West London line, as well as two possible bridge options. I've done my best to overlay the positions below:

View attachment 177148

Obviously very early designs, but I do hope the bridge would continue over OOC Lane - ideally with a covered walkway all the way to the main HS2 station.

Thank you for this and good work