On Thursday 29 May, HS2 revealed the first section of platform to be installed for Britain’s new high-speed railway. In the underground box at HS2’s Old Oak Common station, engineers have begun installing the platform slabs which passengers will use when boarding or alighting high-speed trains in the future. Six platforms are being built at the super-hub station in West London for high-speed services. Each will be served by HS2’s fleet of 400-metre trains. These are being built in advance of a further eight surface-level platforms for Great Western Mainline, Elizabeth Line, and Heathrow Express services.
All six high-speed platforms are being installed at the same time, with construction taking place from either end of the station box. They are laid out as three ‘island’ style blocks. The platforms are the first to be unveiled anywhere on Britain’s new high-speed railway and give a glimpse of what future passengers can expect when services begin running.
To construct the platforms, 1.59-metre-high invert walls have been poured. 1,960 pre-cast concrete slabs, measuring up to 4 metres by 2 metres, are then lifted into place on top with a void below to allow installation of services.
https://www.railengineer.co.uk/first-platforms-installed-at-old-oak-common/