HS2 has completed the first six railway platforms at the new underground station box at Old Oak Common in west London, marking a significant construction milestone for one of the UK's most important future transport interchanges.
The newly completed underground platforms will serve HS2's fleet of high-speed trains, carrying passengers between London, the West Midlands and destinations further north via the West Coast Main Line.
Construction of the platforms was overseen by HS2's station delivery partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA (BBVS), with specialist subcontractor Expanded leading the build programme, which got underway in April 2025.
The project began with the construction of 1.59-metre-high invert walls, cast in situ within the station box. Precast platform slabs, manufactured by Explore in Worksop, were then lifted into position and secured on top. In total, 1,946 concrete slabs were installed, each measuring up to 2m by 4m and weighing between four and five tonnes.
Engineers built the platforms simultaneously from both ends of the station before connecting in the centre to form three island-platform structures. A void beneath the platforms has been incorporated into the design, allowing space for electrical and other operational services to be installed.
With the platform structures now complete, the project moves into the next phase, including the construction of staff accommodation, equipment rooms, lift shafts and escalators. Final floor finishes will be installed once the remaining mechanical and electrical works are completed.
Old Oak Common will eventually feature 14 platforms, including six underground HS2 platforms and eight surface-level platforms serving the Elizabeth line, Great Western Main Line and Heathrow Express. The station will become the 42nd stop on London's Elizabeth line and is expected to provide direct connections to more than 100 destinations across the UK.
Kim Kapur, HS2’s Old Oak Common Area Director, said:
"Going into the underground box at Old Oak Common, you can immediately visualise how it will look as an operational station, including where passengers will board or alight HS2's brand new trains. The scale of the work - and the station now taking shape - is remarkable.
"However, there is much more to do. This includes construction of the conventional, surface level platforms, completion of tunnels either side of the underground box and installation of the impressive station roof, which will begin next year.
"Old Oak Common will be transformative for the local area, providing a new transport hub, with a new vibrant neighbourhood developing around it."
The scale of the development is becoming increasingly visible as work continues across the site. HS2's London tunnels contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG, is expected to break through the western wall of the station box shortly, creating a direct connection to the Northolt Tunnel and the wider HS2 network.
Meanwhile, construction continues on the Euston Tunnel to the east. Two tunnel boring machines launched earlier this year are expected to complete their journeys to Euston in 2027, ultimately linking Old Oak Common with HS2's central London terminus.
Steve O'Sullivan, Project Director, Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA joint venture, said:
"This achievement reflects the expertise of our multidisciplinary teams who have worked collaboratively to deliver one of the most technically challenging stations currently being built in the UK, drawing on world-class engineering, specialist knowledge and a shared commitment to excellence.
"As the full scale, form and function of the station is starting to come into view there is a tremendous sense of pride in what has been accomplished so far to transform an ambitious design into a functioning transport hub, with our focus now on progressing works into the next phase."
Construction is also progressing on the station's surface-level infrastructure, with installation of the first platform slabs for the conventional rail services expected later this year. Attention is now turning towards the station's landmark roof structure, with the first sections due to be installed next year.
The station is set to play a pivotal role in improving connectivity across London and the wider UK rail network. Beyond enhancing journey opportunities for passengers, HS2 says the scheme will release capacity on the southern section of the West Coast Main Line, creating additional paths for local, regional and freight services.
The wider economic impact is also expected to be substantial. Research undertaken by Arcadis indicates that areas surrounding Old Oak Common could benefit from a £10 billion economic boost. Within a 1.5-mile radius of the station, the development is predicted to support more than 22,000 homes, nearly 693,000 square metres of commercial space and almost 19,000 jobs, helping to drive regeneration across west London.
As HS2 CEO Mark Wild continues the programme reset and development of a revised delivery plan, progress at Old Oak Common demonstrates continued momentum on one of the railway's flagship stations.
Photo and Video credits: HS2
