HS2 timeline
December start for construction of Euston and Old Oak Common stations as HS2 reveals detailed timeline plan.
CONSTRUCTION of HS2’s Euston and Old Oak Common stations is expected to start in December, along with the award of the rolling stock contract.
A detailed timeline for the next phases of HS2 building work is contained in the HS2 Corporate Plan 2020 to 2023, which was published on August 7.
It is hoped that the contract to design, build and supply slab track will be awarded in September.
By January 2021, Phase 2a will receive Royal Assent, with contracts placed for all ten Tunnel Boring Machines.
By March, the first earthworks season will get under way, followed a month later by the start of boring of the Chiltern Tunnel.
The contract for Curzon Street station in Birmingham is expected to be awarded in May 2021, and in June 2021 work will begin on Long Itchington Wood Tunnel.
In early 2022, land purchase is expected to be completed, with tunnelling at Bromford starting in March and at Northolt in June.
Construction of the lengthy Colne Valley Viaduct is due to begin in July 2022, with that of Curzon Street station starting at the same time. Long Itchington Wood Tunnel is due to be completed in November 2022, with the award of the signalling systems made a month later.
In 2023 there are fewer firm dates, but the contract for Washwood Heath depot and systems control centre should be awarded in May, with all rail systems contracts awarded in June. In December 2023, work will start on the Euston Tunnel.
Legislation is being developed for Phase 2b, which connects the first two phases with Manchester and Leeds.
The report also reviews progress in 2019, including archaeological finds such as the grave of explorer Captain Matthew
Flinders and the discovery of what is thought to be the world’s oldest railway roundhouse at Curzon Street. Eight buildings at Old Oak Common were demolished and three disused container cranes at London
Euston removed.
HS2 Ltd welcomed its 250th apprentice in spring 2019 and says there are now 350 working on the railway - both for HS2 and within suppliers and contractors.
The report also published some statistics for 2019, revealing that 98% of contracts were awarded to UK-based companies, that more than 16,000 linear metres of utilities were diverted during preparatory works, 1,200 properties were purchased, and that more than 430,000 trees were planted along the railway’s ‘green corridor’.
In his foreword to the report, Chairman Allan Cook wrote:
“The Victorians first realised the dream of rail travel and shared a vision of connecting people and places. That vision was modern, progressive, and asserted national confidence.
“The same visionary spirit informs the people of HS2 as we now move to deliver, through a collective national endeavour, a railway to transform Britain.”