The BBVS JV is responsible for the station’s construction. Credit: HS2.

The construction of the Old Oak Common High Speed Two (HS2) station’s base slab in London, UK, has been completed, signifying a major advancement for the wider HS2 project.

The underground station base, stretching 850m long and set to accommodate six platforms for high-speed trains, was constructed with 76,000m³ of concrete and 17,000 tonnes of reinforced steel.

The base slab spans 45,000m² and is nearly 2m thick at its deepest point.

Construction commenced in April 2023 and involved 91 separate concrete pours.

The Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA joint venture (BBVS JV) is responsible for the station’s construction, which at its peak saw up to 50 steel fixers and 20 joiners employed, alongside engineers.

This completion is a critical milestone in establishing a transport ‘superhub’ for London and the wider UK.

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BBVS JV project director Steve O’Sullivan said: “With the completion of the base slab, we have achieved another significant milestone at Old Oak Common. In less than two years, we have carried out 91 concrete pours of between 600m³ and 1,000m³ each.

“Logistically, this has been a huge undertaking, requiring detailed planning and collaboration between HS2, Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA and our supply chain partners.

“This latest step will enable us to progress to the next phase of works, with construction of the high-speed platforms already underway.”

The station will provide six underground platforms for services to central London, the West Midlands, and connections to the north of England via existing railways.

The base slab required the installation of blinding, shingle layers for drainage, and a 1.85m-high reinforcement layer, with steel fixed by hand. The concrete pours completed the slab, laying the foundation for the high-speed station area.

London Concrete, part of the Holcim Group, supplied the concrete from an on-site batching plant. More than 90% of the concrete for the base slab was produced on-site, reducing lorry movements and carbon dioxide emissions.

Work on the six HS2 service platforms is ongoing, with wall frameworks being installed for concrete pouring.