Delivering nationally important high speed rail infrastructure

We’re building tunnels 13 miles long and up to 50 metres deep from the London terminus at Euston station to West Ruislip.

Our JV teams are working on sites at Euston, Old Oak Common and West Ruislip and employ around 4,800 people, including supply chain. This includes people from local communities, with more than 300 brought in through training and employment schemes that have helped those who were previously homeless, long-term unemployed or vulnerable for other reasons.

About HS2 Main Works

This complex programme of works stretches from Euston to Northolt in Greater London and includes:

- The biggest archaeological exhumation programme in Europe
- The installation of secondary glazing to 1,300 properties
- Demolition of 82 buildings and 2 cranes
- An array of physical and ecological surveys, design, and site clearance
- Industry leading legacy, environment, and health and safety initiatives

At its peak the joint venture team employed over 600 employees and 1,700 operatives. Our work has been delivered safely, in one of the busiest cities in the world, alongside a railway station that supports 145,000 people a day and semi-rural communities. The enabling works programme is due for completion in 2022. 

Skanska’s specialist Cementation team has delivered a programme of complex ground engineering and piling solutions in the London area for HS2 Phase One.

This included work awarded by the Skanska Costain STRABAG JV on behalf of HS2 to construct a total of 435 piles. The primary works were for bored pile retaining walls that will form the portal for the running line tunnels to be constructed between West Ruislip and Old Oak Common. A total of 318 large diameter 1200mm and 1500mm rotary bored piles were installed, at depths averaging 38 metres. The Area West Piling Phase One works also included the installation of 117 large diameter 1180mm rotary bored piles for two bridge structures. These structures will take the new HS2 lines over the River Pinn and Breakspear Road South near Ickenham.

In Area East, Cementation Skanska has also been appointed to create one of the largest current open-cut retaining boxes in Europe – equivalent in size to four football pitches. More than 800 piles will be installed in creating the new Euston scissor box that will carry the new running lines. Works will also be carried out to construct some 700 piles for two new bridge structures, in addition to 418 piles for the Euston Throat Retained Cut, an extension to the scissor box, and 106 piles for the new Euston Cavern shaft.