New Civil Engineer Civil engineering and construction news and jobs from New Civil Engineer
Refreshed designs for HS2’s Euston station have been revealed, seven years after initial drawings for the London terminus were first tabled.
A major change to the roof is the most striking adaptation from earlier designs, with 20 bronze/ gold structural bays replacing the former curved arched design, which unfortunately gained the nickname of the “toenail”.
As part of the updated design there has been a refocussed effort to ensure modular construction and offsite prefabrication are used to assist construction.
In particular, the station’s roof will be prefabricated offsite in a panelised structure before being transported and installed on site.
The central section of the geometric roof will be constructed of glass to allow as much natural light into the ground floor level of the new station. The panelised bays either side will also reflect light down into the station.
The updated designs reflect the government and HS2’s decision to reduce the number of platforms at the station from 11 to 10 in order to allow construction to take place in one single phase.
The HS2 station itself will be set across three levels, with 10 450m long subsurface platforms, which will at peak operation will be used by up to 17 high speed trains per hour serving destinations in the Midlands and the North.
Concerns about reducing the number of platforms have previously been raised by rail professionals, with one HS2 insider telling NCE that having one less platform gives the service less “wiggle room” should delays occur elsewhere on the line.
The ground-level concourse of HS2’s Euston station will be 300m long and will allow free movement for both passengers and visitors through the station and will open out onto new public spaces at the north and south. The station hall will become the largest station concourse in the UK.
HS2 Ltd Euston Area client director Laurence Whitbourn said: “HS2’s London Euston station is one of the most complex parts of the HS2 route, situated in a densely populated residential area and adjacent to a busy operational railway. HS2 Ltd is absolutely committed to getting Euston right, engaging with the local community and stakeholders as we continue to progress our designs.
“With the arrival of HS2, Euston is fast becoming one of the largest transport-led regeneration projects of the 21st Century. Across a site of over 60 acres we have the unique opportunity to work with stakeholders and partners to create a new piece of the city creating thousands of jobs, new homes and areas of green public space.”
Construction of the HS2 station will support 3,000 jobs at peak and will offer hundreds of contract opportunities through the supply chain. Main works contractor MDJV (a JV between Mace and Dragados) recently began a multi-year procurement of packages for subcontractors worth £500M for work on the HS2 station and the London Underground at Euston and Euston Square which will provide improved connections for passengers.
Taking account of the recommendations of the independent Oakervee review, the design integrates the HS2 station with the existing Network Rail station and emerging plans for over site development, led by Lendlease.
Network Rail is creating plans to redevelop and integrate the existing Euston station, serving the West Coast mainline, alongside the HS2 terminus.
Grimshaw and Arup won the Euston concept design job in 2012 but were replaced by WilkinsonEyre with WSP in February 2017. The original team was brought back for the detailed design work a year later, with the latest designs drawn up by a consortium made up of Arup, WSP and Grimshaw Architects.
Grimshaw partner Declan McCafferty added: “The scale of the new HS2 London Euston station means we have the opportunity to create a new truly public civic space for London, a place that responds to transport and passenger needs and becomes part of the existing urban fabric and community.
“The 300-metre long station hall sits at the heart of this approach, creating a space that is permeable, accessible and open and connects to the local streets and neighbourhoods through green, pedestrian-oriented spaces.”
The HS2 station will also be integrated with Euston and Euston Square Underground stations. As revealed by NCE last week, TfL has raised “several concerns” with the way the two stations will integrate as part of the ongoing design consultation process.
Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here.
Have your say
or a new account to join the discussion.