The Victoria Road Crossover Box, near to Old Oak Common in West London, will allow HS2 trains to switch tracks underground on their approach into the new superhub station
Sheet piling has been completed by Skanska Costain Strabag Railways JV to enable the construction of the Victoria Road crossover box in Acton, West London.
The installation of 200m of sheet piling was the final piece of enabling work before permanent works can begin for the crossover box site, which is located to the west of where the new HS2 Old Oak Common station is being constructed. It will house a crossover track mechanism that will allow trains to switch between tracks, on the approach and descent from Old Oak Common station.
The box will be 130m in length and 24m deep, complete with 1.5m thick walls constructed by diaphragm piling method, with top and intermediate levels of reinforced concrete props. The base slab of the crossover box will be supported is supported by 77 piles which will be installed at a 20m depth.
The site is also currently being prepared to launch the Northolt tunnel boring machines (TBMs) which will bore 5.5km north west, as part of the construction of HS2’s 13.5km Northolt Tunnel.
Skanska Costain Strabag JV James Richardson said: "Our team are making great progress on constructing the crossover box at Victoria Road and are working collaboratively with other construction partners to deliver this exceptional programme of work. As we continue to build the HS2 tunnels and shafts between West Ruislip and Euston, we are growing our workforce and offer many routes into our industry so that our team reflects the diversity of the community we serve."
The site will also be home to the Victoria Road ancillary shaft which will provide ventilation and emergency access to the rail line during operation. The shaft will have an internal diameter of 25m and will be constructed using pre-cast rings at the top and using a sprayed concrete lining technique at the bottom.
Sheet Piling UK was awarded the contract to install the sheet pile infrastructure for Hampstead Road Bridge, Euston Scissor Box and the Granby Road Terrace Bridge for HS2.
HS2 Limited project client Malcolm Codling added: “HS2 Ltd and our contractors, are pushing ahead, completing this work on time to meet our construction timetable.
"The Victoria Road site will house some of the most crucial pieces of infrastructure that are required to make Old Oak Common station one of the best connected in the UK, providing a quarter of a million passengers a day connections to the North, East, South and West across the UK”