HS2: Tunnel into Euston paused, as Birmingham to Old Oak Common line prioritised

HS2 has confirmed that work on the tunnel into Euston will now be “deferred”, after the government announced it would be prioritising the line between Birmingham and Old Oak Common.

A spokesperson for HS2 said work was due to begin on the Old Oak Common to Euston tunnel in 2024, but following the government’s decision it will now be pushed back.

Concerns about whether the line would ever extend to its Euston terminus were recently raised by figures including Michael Gove, despite work having already begun on the Camden station.

Traders on Drummond Street previously spoke to LondonWorld about the disruption the works had caused, with one describing the situation as a “nightmare”.

Old Oak Common, in North Acton, is expected to open in the early 2030s, and is anticipated to be the UK’s best-connected station once running.

It will also act as the end-point for those heading into London until the Euston leg is completed, with passengers able to transfer onto connections including the Elizabeth line.

The HS2 spokesperson said: “Since the government announcement to prioritise the delivery of HS2 between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street we have been working on the details of which works will be deferred.

“We can confirm that there are impacts to the works being delivered under the Main Works Civils Contract, awarded to Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture, specifically the section between Old Oak Common and the Euston Approaches.

“The two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) building the tunnel on this section from the Old Oak Common Box towards Euston were scheduled to begin in 2024, but this is now deferred. The Atlas Road Logistics Tunnel - between Old Oak Common station site and the Atlas Road site - is a precursor to this work and is still continuing.”

They added that preparation works for the launch of the two TBMs will also continue.