Arcadis lands Old Oak Common HS2 station systems design contract

Engineering consultants Arcadis have been awarded a £7m contract to future-proof the proposed Old Oak Common HS2 station using its design services for track work, signalling power supply systems, and electrification.

Network Rail Infrastructure who awarded the contract said Arcadis would essentially be responsible for ensuring HS2 and Great Western Mainlines services could run side by side.

Arcadis say the bid also had a strong digital and innovation focus with teams able to leverage Digital Rail expertise from the Netherlands and experience of using 4D BIM – which adds ‘time’ measures to a 3D model.

London and Birmingham are already planning for the arrival of four new HS2 stations which are expected to unlock opportunities for 30,000 new homes and 130,000 jobs as part of wider developments around them.

The role Arcadis is playing in designing the new track layout and signalling will be pivotal in helping Network Rail meet their target of achieving 24 trains per hour passing through the station.
Tom Constantine, Arcadis.

Tom Constantine, technical director at Arcadis, led the bid and said: “The Old Oak Common transport hub will be a truly transformative project for UK Plc.  The role Arcadis is playing in designing the new track layout and signalling will be pivotal in helping Network Rail meet their target of achieving 24 trains per hour, passing through the station at peak times. This isn’t just about designing a railway station for 2026, this is about future-proofing the railway so it can operate safely and efficiently for decades to come.

HS2 bosses claim the construction of Old Oak Common will be able to support the development of 25,000 new homes and create 65,000 jobs in surrounding areas. 

The station which is due to open in 2026 will act as a multi model transport interchange, providing easy transitions with a number of other mainline and commuter rail services, including the Elizabeth Line and the Great Western Main Line.

The new station is projected to be the biggest sub-surface station to be built in the UK at around 1 kilometre in length and 20 metres below ground level. It will be built on an urban brownfield site in London Zone 2 and have eight platforms above ground for commuters.

Arup and WSP were among the teams of architects, designers and engineers awarded contracts to design four HS2 stations back in February. WSP, working with Wilkinson Eyre Architects, will be designing Old Oak Common.

The new HS2 stations in London and Birmingham will be designed with input from local communities, using best practice principles from stations around the world, and guidelines and specifications endorsed by an independent panel of leading architects and designers.