HS2 Euston - Development, design and construction news (not speculation, please)

[Nottingham59]

That makes sense, thanks for the info

Though of course the design for Euston is not yet finalised. There was talk of keeping the three tunnels to enable grade separation in the throat, but it's not certain yet.

 

[Geogregor]

Though of course the design for Euston is not yet finalised. There was talk of keeping the three tunnels to enable grade separation in the throat, but it's not certain yet.

From what I understand the three tunnels are confirmed, desigdned and preparations for constructio are ongoing, by the same consortium which will build tunnels from the OOC.

This bit is not part of the Euston station contracts, where things are of course still uncertain.

 

[Nottingham59]

From what I understand the three tunnels are confirmed, desigdned and preparations for constructio are ongoing, by the same consortium which will build tunnels from the OOC.

This bit is not part of the Euston station contracts, where things are of course still uncertain.

I'm sure they're designed and "confirmed". But the question is whether they get funded and built. The only current evidence I know of is from the April minutes of the Euston Development Partnership:

"An in-principal steer had been received from ministers to look at the futureproofing of the HS2 station in more detail. There had been discussions on further work to look at how to ensure capital costs and the impact on development for some of those choices was understood."

I really do hope that futureproofing includes all three tunnels, grade separation and scope for future expansion to 11 platforms.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6949650b888ddc41b48a54a0/euston-partnership-board-meeting-april-2025.pdf

 

[SCDR_WMR]

There does seem to have been an marked increase in activity at the Euston site over the last few weeks.

Tower crane erected, digging and earth removal from around the current station end, boots back on the ground.

It's good to see the site no longer made safe/mothballed

 

[Snow1964]

I really do hope that futureproofing includes all three tunnels, grade separation and scope for future expansion to 11 platforms.

I would have gone further with futureproofing, and added provision for link spurs to HS1

There is a perverse logic to idea that there needed to be spurs towards north Wales, Liverpool, Glasgow etc, but no one would ever want to go further south east than Euston, even if it only one train out of 15 each hour.

 

[Nottingham59]

I would have gone further with futureproofing, and added provision for link spurs to HS1

But there is:

HS2 plan and profile maps: HS1 - HS2 link

These are the plan and profile maps for Phase One of HS2 between London and the West Midlands.

www.gov.uk

"HS2 plan and profile maps: HS1 - HS2 link"​

As far as I can see, the latest plans for the OOC-Euston tunnel still have the space between them needed for a third tunnel to provide a single track reversible link from OOC to HS1.

There is a perverse logic to idea that there needed to be spurs towards north Wales, Liverpool, Glasgow etc, but no one would ever want to go further south east than Euston, even if it only one train out of 15 each hour.

There really is no justification for spending billions of pounds just to service one train per hour. There are far better places to spend that sort of money, like 400m platforms at Manchester and Crewe etc.

(And it's not in London's interest to allow it. Cites grow where people have to change transport mode.)

 

[chris2]

HS2 Euston tunnel email update

HS2 Works Notification: Euston Tunnel construction update



From late January 2026 to late June 2027, we will be building the Euston Tunnel between Old Oak Common and Euston using two tunnel boring machines (TBMs).

We expect to launch the first tunnel boring machine (TBM Madeleine) from the Old Oak Common site in week beginning 26 January 2026 for the upline, with the second downline TBM (TBM Karen) launched about a month later.

The TBMs will progress up to 150 metres a week. The depth from the ground surface to the top of the tunnel varies between 35 and 40 metres. We expect both TBMs to complete their journey to the Euston Cavern by late June 2027.Some residents living near the Euston Tunnel route may hear some groundborne noise as the TBMs pass, or when we are building cross passages between the tunnels. We will update you as the tunnel construction progresses.

 

[PLY2AYS]

HS2 Euston tunnel email update

Superb news. Good to see firm confirmation of the works going ahead.

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 Euston tunnel email update

There is a website version now with all the details including a map with indications of which months at selected locations on the map the TBMs will be at

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Euston-Tunnel-AWN-Jan-2026-1-1.pdf

 

[BrianW]

Hopefully lessons were learned from the Austrian method that failed at Heathrow:

Safety of New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) Tunnels - HSE

Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). It deals with the worldwide history of NATM failures and collapses and describes the legislation, the importance of a risk-based approach and describes a model for managing risk.

www.hse.gov.uk

 

[Bald Rick]

Hopefully lessons were learned from the Austrian method that failed at Heathrow:

Safety of New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) Tunnels - HSE

Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). It deals with the worldwide history of NATM failures and collapses and describes the legislation, the importance of a risk-based approach and describes a model for managing risk.

www.hse.gov.uk

Given that there are many more spray concrete lined tunnels in this country built since, it’s safe to say they have been.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Looks like next week will be go for the first tunnel drive from OOC to Euston.

At last.

HS2 prepares to bore its final tunnels as Euston TBM launch date confirmed

The first of the tunnel boring machines that will dig HS2’s last two tunnels is due to set off on its journey to Euston station next week.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

 

[Chris125]

Apologies if previously mentioned, but HS2 have revived plans to remove Euston spoil by rail: https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/civils/hs2/hs2-revives-euston-spoil-by-rail-plan-19-01-2026/

Newly released minutes from the board’s May 2025 discussions show that HS2 manager Nick Jones hoped a two-phase strategy for transporting the construction spoil could be established.

The first phase would use existing rail track, with a second phase put into operation after a new railhead is installed and significant enabling works are carried out at Euston’s platform 16.

The second phase would require funding and a business case to be drawn up, the meeting heard.

HS2 told a Treasury official that it would need approval by the end of this financial year for the first phase. The government has since approved the phase, the HS2 spokesperson confirmed.

 

[The Planner]

Apologies if previously mentioned, but HS2 have revived plans to remove Euston spoil by rail: https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/civils/hs2/hs2-revives-euston-spoil-by-rail-plan-19-01-2026/

Already in the timetable for May, I doubt you will see more than one or two of those run.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Already in the timetable for May, I doubt you will see more than one or two of those run.

I am not too surprised. Although I have no sight of it I imagine that trying to industrialise a passenger station with hard hat / safety boot / hiviz zone will not be great. Although I imagine the work area will be screened off from the passengers.

How many platforms does Euston currently have ?

TIA

 

[SCDR_WMR]

16

 

[Chris125]

I am not too surprised. Although I have no sight of it I imagine that trying to industrialise a passenger station with hard hat / safety boot / hiviz zone will not be great. Although I imagine the work area will be screened off from the passengers.

How many platforms does Euston currently have ?

TIA

Looks to me like they have a siding ready to go for the first phase:

 

[The Planner]

I am not too surprised. Although I have no sight of it I imagine that trying to industrialise a passenger station with hard hat / safety boot / hiviz zone will not be great. Although I imagine the work area will be screened off from the passengers.

How many platforms does Euston currently have ?

TIA

Its not a new plan, its all been hoarded off for years anyway. The issue with it is the performance implications of getting a heavy loaded train up the bank towards Willesden.

 

[hwl]

Looks to me like they have a siding ready to go for the first phase:

They do, the former P17. The problems is that it is only good for ~8 wagons (assuming top and tail unless you leave a loco in the middle sidings?). Hence it is much more suited to a low work rate, long, slow excavation. So as all plans will need a big hole and lots of excavation if they want to use rail the ideal time to start is soon.
Getting the Tunnels done provides a second medium term option to use conveyors which might be best to removing the spoil in the later stages.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jan 2026 ==

Its not a new plan, its all been hoarded off for years anyway. The issue with it is the performance implications of getting a heavy loaded train up the bank towards Willesden.

I would assume moves at the Euston end just late in the evening so as not to impact performance but that would effectively need two trains to service the site with a very slow removal rate?
(From memory the limit up the bank is effectively 9 wagons with a 66?)

 

[87015]

They do, the former P17. The problems is that it is only good for ~8 wagons (assuming top and tail unless you leave a loco in the middle sidings?). Hence it is much more suited to a low work rate, long, slow excavation. So as all plans will need a big hole and lots of excavation if they want to use rail the ideal time to start is soon.
Getting the Tunnels done provides a second medium term option to use conveyors which might be best to removing the spoil in the later stages.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jan 2026 ==


I would assume moves at the Euston end just late in the evening so as not to impact performance but that would effectively need two trains to service the site with a very slow removal rate?
(From memory the limit up the bank is effectively 9 wagons with a 66?)

Realtime Trains | Departures from London Euston between 0200 and 0159 on 16/07/2026

Train information at London Euston between 0200 and 0159 on 16/07/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

In traffic hours, with passenger trains amended to be off pattern and longer journey times to make them work

 

[Wyrleybart]

They do, the former P17. The problems is that it is only good for ~8 wagons (assuming top and tail unless you leave a loco in the middle sidings?). Hence it is much more suited to a low work rate, long, slow excavation. So as all plans will need a big hole and lots of excavation if they want to use rail the ideal time to start is soon.
Getting the Tunnels done provides a second medium term option to use conveyors which might be best to removing the spoil in the later stages.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jan 2026 ==


I would assume moves at the Euston end just late in the evening so as not to impact performance but that would effectively need two trains to service the site with a very slow removal rate?
(From memory the limit up the bank is effectively 9 wagons with a 66?)

Maybe like the movement that served New St overnight from Small Heath in Birmingham ? I think they had a turnover train in the early hours whilst replacing the platforms ?

 

[hwl]

Realtime Trains | Departures from London Euston between 0200 and 0159 on 16/07/2026

Train information at London Euston between 0200 and 0159 on 16/07/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

In traffic hours, with passenger trains amended to be off pattern and longer journey times to make them work

That is a serious amount of removal planned - effectively 4 pairs of paths a day and would need a serious amount of staffing at Euston to fill those in the times and lots of wagon overall for the moves beyond Euston hence as @The Planner say unlikely that many will get used.
A large amount of spoil from the approaches starting this year including under the longer Hampstead bridge not just the station area.

 

[WWTownEnth]

https://x.com/hs2ltd/status/2016193583859024123?s=61

Tunnelling to Euston has begun

 

[wanderingriver]

https://x.com/hs2ltd/status/2016193583859024123?s=61

Tunnelling to Euston has begun

Finally! Feels like we are getting near to the end now even though the TBM will finish next year in summer

 

[quantinghome]

Given that there are many more spray concrete lined tunnels in this country built since, it’s safe to say they have been.

Indeed. Crossrail made maximum use of it: https://learninglegacy.crossrail.co...-tunnel-linings-on-Londons-Elizabeth-line.pdf

Sprayed concrete linings have been used extensively on the £14·8 billion Crossrail project to deliver the Elizabeth line east west across London, in particular at the central stations along the route. The technique is ideally suited to the construction of short tunnel drives with varying cross-sections, as well as the large number of tunnel junctions with non-standard and complex geometries and alignments.

 

[Tilting007]

Already in the timetable for May, I doubt you will see more than one or two of those run.

Should start 12th Feb (first loaded).
Runs out to Willesden Euroterminal and then Forders (on the Bletchley - Bedford Lines).

 

[Snow1964]

Now that first of the Euston TBMs is underway, HS2 have released details of utilities work to August in and around Road called Parkway in Camden ahead of the tunnelling, to strengthen or protect utilities pipes

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/VHA0038-260122-Utility-works-around-Parkway-February-to-August.pdf

The map on this associated link, shows the track alignment in blue, and the works are just to the north of where the junction on the southbound track is, where is splits into two tunnels and one passes over (or under) the northbound track to flank the station exit tracks.

If you move the map on the link, the northbound track is two tracks in the centre from platforms before merging into single northbound track, moving map further towards Euston shows the station throat layout, and the 11 platform tracks in the station

Update - Utility works around Parkway - February to October 2026

Parkway utility works – February to October We need to protect and divert utility services beneath Parkway junction and in the surrounding area before the tunnel boring machine passes beneath. In February we started our utility works on the sewers, water mains and power cables on Parkway, Albert...

www.hs2.org.uk

 

[chris2]

Guardian article carrying this very interesting quote from Rail Minister Lord Hendy, speaking about the new design for Euston and the number of high speed platforms envisaged for the new station

“The spatial design is virtually agreed between all the parties … [It] will leave space for more because it’s inconceivable that we would build this railway at this level of expense without filling it full of trains to go everywhere in Britain.”

 

[WWTownEnth]

Guardian article carrying this very interesting quote from Rail Minister Lord Hendy, speaking about the new design for Euston and the number of high speed platforms envisaged for the new station

I’ve long beleived we are in for a penny and in for a pound on this now. I’d give it a year before the line to Crewe is reinstated and there will be renewed talk of the Leeds spur before long too.

 

[Palmerston]

I’ve long beleived we are in for a penny and in for a pound on this now. I’d give it a year before the line to Crewe is reinstated and there will be renewed talk of the Leeds spur before long too.

Has the land in Leeds been sold/freed for development yet? I can see the first part, the East Midlands spur being brought back in.