Subject
HS2
London Travel News has published 13 stories involving HS2, from August 2026 to October 2026. Each one is scored for how well the original reporting stood up, and lists the reports it was written from.
- Projects · North London
Old Oak Common Lane to close for four years due to HS2 works
Old Oak Common Lane is set to be fully closed for four years from early 2028 to allow for extensive works related to the High Speed 2 (HS2) project, including road and bridge construction. Transport for London is exploring options for bus services.
North London3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 50 · Hype 45 
Airports · HeathrowHeathrow third runway cost estimate exceeds £100bn
Heathrow's proposed third runway expansion is now estimated to cost £49bn, with potential overall expenditure exceeding £100bn. Critics argue that the project offers limited benefits for national growth and diverts funds from other essential public services.
Heathrow4 min readTrust 30 · Craft 60 · Hype 60- Tube & Rail · London
Rohan O’Grady to lead HS2 London tunnels for SCS JV
Rohan O’Grady has been appointed managing director of the Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture (SCS JV). He will be responsible for the delivery of the London tunnels section of the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project.
London2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 53 · Hype 10 
WorldHS2 chalk grassland project attracts wildlife
A 127-hectare artificial chalk grassland, built by HS2 using excavated materials, is already attracting diverse wildlife. The Western Slopes project aims to sequester 7% of HS2's construction carbon impact and will open to the public next year.
4 min readTrust 40 · Craft 60 · Hype 20
WorldHS2 redesign enables step-free Elizabeth line access at Old Oak Common
High Speed 2 (HS2) has approved a redesign for Old Oak Common station, lowering railway tracks to enable step-free boarding for Elizabeth line passengers. This change is crucial as Elizabeth line users are expected to comprise 90 per cent of station interchanges.
3 min readTrust 44 · Craft 69 · Hype 20
Tube & Rail · West LondonWest London Orbital rail plan gets £6.65m for detailed design
A £6.65 million funding package has been agreed for the detailed planning and design of the proposed West London Orbital railway. The scheme aims to bring underused freight lines into passenger service, potentially cutting journey times and supporting new homes and jobs.
West London3 min readTrust 44 · Craft 57 · Hype 41
Tube & Rail · West LondonChiltern Main Line track work and HS2 bridge demolition this weekend
Network Rail is undertaking track replacement and drainage improvements on the Chiltern Main Line. HS2 will demolish a road bridge near West Ruislip. The work is scheduled for Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September.
West London2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 57 · Hype 20
Tube & Rail · LondonFirst of ten new Elizabeth line trains enters service
The first of ten new Class 345 Aventra trains has started carrying passengers on the Elizabeth line. Built in Derby with government funding, these trains underwent extensive testing before their introduction.
London2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 35- Tube & Rail · London
First new Elizabeth line train enters service
The first of ten new trains for London's Elizabeth line has entered passenger service. The additional rolling stock was ordered to manage rising passenger numbers and support the existing fleet, with service frequency increases anticipated by the end of 2027.
London3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 65 · Hype 20 
Projects · West LondonOld Oak Common station completes HS2 platforms as surface work lags
Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA has completed the six underground HS2 platforms at Old Oak Common station in West London. The surface station, intended for GWR and Elizabeth line services, currently has six of eight platforms built, with the remaining two dependent on a future mainline railway closure.
West London5 min readTrust 50 · Craft 85 · Hype 30
Projects · West LondonOld Oak Common HS2 platforms finished but conventional rail delayed to 2029
HS2 has completed six 450-metre high-speed platforms at Old Oak Common station, but conventional rail services will not arrive until 2029 due to a 12-day blockade to Paddington. Two tunnel boring machines are already heading towards Euston, with breakthrough expected in 2027.
West London5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 15
Projects · North LondonHS2 plaque marks Brunel legacy 40 metres beneath Kensal Green
A plaque has been installed inside HS2’s Euston Tunnel, 40 metres below London, commemorating the Brunel family’s engineering legacy. The site lies beneath Kensal Green Cemetery, where the inventors of the tunnelling shield are buried. The tunnel is due to complete next year.
North London4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 72 · Hype 30
Airports · HeathrowHeathrow expansion consultation opens as skills pipeline for Barnet workers at risk
The government has launched a consultation on the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement, which campaigners say is vital to retain engineering and construction skills in Barnet. Without new projects, thousands of apprentices and graduates trained on HS2 could leave the sector, risking future infrastructure delivery.
Heathrow5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 69 · Hype 15