Laying the foundation for HS2’s Southern Terminus

• Laying the foundations for the UK’s first high speed rail terminus, enabling a future station with six 400 metre platforms running up to 10 trains per hour with provision for three more. 
• Advancing enabling works for London’s high speed rail terminus, supporting improved national connectivity and future enhanced links to Network Rail, London Underground and wider surface transport. 
• Unlocking six acres of central London regeneration, creating space for new homes, commercial development, a new transport hub and long-term economic growth. 

As the future southern terminus of Britain’s new high speed railway (HS2) connecting London and Birmingham, HS2 Euston will reshape how people travel between London, the Midlands and the North. By increasing capacity, improving passenger experience and freeing up the existing railway for expanded local and regional services, HS2’s arrival to central London is crucial to unlocking its full potential to deliver more jobs, more homes and a long-term boost to the British economy.  

Since 2019, Mace, alongside Dragados in joint venture as MDJV, has been leading the design and construction of the new station. Working as part of an integrated project team with HS2, MDJV leads the coordination of design and delivery of the high speed station, including the platforms, concourse and connections to London Underground and other rail services, across one of the most complex urban environments in the country. The platforms are positioned approximately 9 metres below street level, requiring extensive excavation and deep station structural engineering.  

The station has been designed to accommodate six 400-metre-long high speed platforms, with provision for a future expansion of up to three additional platforms.  

The design and construction of the new HS2 station is the anchor for unlocking a broader redevelopment of the Euston area, with estimates from Camden Council suggesting a mix of new homes and commercial development at Euston could add £41 billion to the economy by 2053 and support 34,000 new jobs.  

Traction Substation   

In addition to the main station works, MDJV has delivered a state-of-the-art Traction Substation (TSS) to bolster the infrastructure of the London Underground Northern line. This complex project required the excavation of a 20-metre-deep box and the construction of a 90-metre-long tunnel, linking the new TSS directly to the Underground network. All civil and structural activities were completed safely within a highly constrained environment, situated adjacent to a Thames Water main and a major sewer, and beneath both the Northern and Victoria Underground lines. 

The TSS is equipped with modern, energy efficient systems aimed at enhancing operational performance while minimising environmental impact. A new tunnel ventilation fan has been installed, providing a 32% increase in capacity compared to the previous system. This upgrade delivers significant improvements in cooling and, simultaneously, the power supply system has been enhanced, offering a 25% increase in total capacity. This vital upgrade future proofs the network for many years to come.  

London Underground enabling  

Works to enable the London Underground elements of the station include relocation of service critical MEP assets crucial to London Underground operations, civil and architectural works to existing structures to inform design and constructability methods for 18 future tunnel breakthroughs, and asset protection to a significant number of stakeholder buildings. The upcoming multiyear scheme of complex infrastructure delivery will support active provision for future London Underground expansion.  

In addition to these works, the project has delivered a range of public realm improvements, including a new 36 space taxi rank, enhanced passenger help points, upgraded wayfinding across the station approaches and 120 new cycle parking spaces to support sustainable travel.  

Works will be controlled and coordinated with key stakeholders and asset owners including Network Rail, Transport for London and utilities providers.  

Utilities  

Other enabling works included the successful delivery of 420 metres of a 1,500mm diameter sewer using a tunnel boring machine (TBM), which also involved constructing eight large chambers. Simultaneously, 420 metres of a new 1,000mm diameter water main were installed, necessitating a complete closure of the Thames Water Utilities Limited trunk main system. This pipeline now serves approximately 225,000 people across Camden, King’s Cross, Islington and Covent Garden.  

The scope also covered installation of 350 metres of a new 800mm diameter gas main, including inserting 80 metres into an existing live public highway gas main. Altogether, more than 12 kilometres of new service ducts were laid across the site.  

Additionally, five UK Power Networks substations were installed, and five existing substations were removed. The project also facilitated the installation of a 13.5MVA Temporary Buildings Supply through both contestable and non-contestable activities.  

Numerous works were carried out offsite on London Borough of Camden and Transport for London roads without any negative impacts, minimising disruption to the community and avoiding any major incidents during these operations.  

Stakeholder engagement  

Due to its central London location, stakeholder engagement is pivotal to the successful delivery of HS2 Euston Station. The team has extensive experience operating within live London Underground and Network Rail environments, working closely with transport operators and third-party stakeholders to manage complex interfaces and requirements. This includes maintaining safe and efficient passenger flows while undertaking works in and around operational rail assets.  

Alongside this, the team manages a wide range of stakeholder relationships across the Euston campus and wider area, ensuring the needs of statutory bodies, utilities providers, local authorities and neighbouring projects are carefully coordinated. The project also places strong emphasis on supporting the local community through commitments to apprenticeships and graduate opportunities, the successful delivery of the Euston Skills Centre to train the next generation in valuable skills, and ongoing engagement with residents and businesses. The team’s 6 years of continuous collaboration with campus partners has been essential to coordinating works within such a complex, live transport environment.  

Exhumations and materials by rail  

As part of the early enabling works at HS2 Euston, MDJV has carefully managed a complex programme of archaeological investigation and exhumations, working closely with specialist contractors, regulators and faith representatives to ensure the process was handled with dignity, sensitivity and full compliance with statutory requirements.  

In parallel, the project has maximised the use of materials by rail, significantly reducing the number of vehicle movements on London’s roads. By transporting excavated materials and construction supplies via the existing rail network wherever practicable, the team has helped minimise disruption to the local community, reduce congestion and lower the environmental impact of construction in a constrained central London setting.  

HS2 Euston will become a new gateway to the capital and a catalyst for long term regeneration, growth and improved connection across the UK. MDJV is building the foundations, infrastructure and systems that will make this future station possible, delivering the work today that enables HS2’s next generation of rail travel tomorrow.