HS2 tunnel link completed to Old Oak Common
A final connection has been made, linking West Ruislip to the new Old Oak Common station.
Trust 30Craft 60Hype 40How this was reported ▾
The central claim is attributed to HS2 and the Rail Minister, but no documents or independent outlets are cited.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
The article explains the significance of the event and quotes relevant figures, but lacks detail on what happens next.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
The language is largely factual, with some emphasis on the 'breakthrough' and 'major milestone'.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
1 source assessed · methodology
High Speed 2 (HS2) has achieved a significant construction milestone with the completion of a tunnel link connecting West Ruislip to the future Old Oak Common station. This breakthrough establishes an 8.8-mile continuous rail tunnel route.
The Northolt tunnel, stretching from West Ruislip towards Old Oak Common, was primarily excavated using a Tunnel Boring Machine. However, the final section required manual excavation by machinery to create a large cavern. This cavern is designed to facilitate train movements across multiple tracks to the station's platforms.
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A Major Project Milestone
Lord Hendy, the Rail Minister, marked the occasion, stating, "This is a major milestone for HS2, bringing us a step closer to delivering a world-class transport hub at Old Oak Common and connecting London to Britain’s new high-speed railway." The work on the connecting tunnels began in May 2024, employing a method not previously used on the HS2 project for the final breakthrough into the station box.
HS2's chief executive, Mark Wild, highlighted the project's progress and its future impact. "We are now in the final stages of a fundamental reset of the entire HS2 programme to deliver the line safely and efficiently between London the West Midlands at the lowest reasonable cost," he said. Wild added that the Old Oak Common station is anticipated to provide a £10 billion boost to the local economy over the next ten years.
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Progress Towards Euston
In parallel, two large tunnel boring machines are progressing from Old Oak Common station towards Euston. These machines commenced their journey at the start of 2026 and are expected to reach their destination near Euston station around the middle of next year.
Questions this report answers
+What has been completed at HS2?
HS2 has completed a tunnel link connecting West Ruislip to the future Old Oak Common station. This establishes an 8.8-mile continuous rail tunnel route, a significant step for the project.
+How was the final tunnel section dug?
The final few hundred yards of the Northolt tunnel required manual excavation by machinery to create a large cavern, as opposed to standard tunnel boring. This cavern is designed to allow trains to cross tracks to reach the station platforms.
+What economic impact is the Old Oak Common station expected to have?
HS2's chief executive, Mark Wild, stated that the Old Oak Common station is projected to boost the local economy by £10 billion over the next decade.
+What is the next major step for the tunnel boring machines?
Two tunnel boring machines are currently travelling from Old Oak Common towards Euston station. They are expected to arrive at their destination near Euston around the middle of next year.
WE FILE
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The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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