OOC - Experts working on Elizabeth line change

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

From My London, via MSN

Transport for London says it has been progressing with making a change to plans for a new Elizabeth line station. Old Oak Common in West London will function as a temporary terminus for HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) services before the project's Euston station is finished.

It is not known when this will be, but bosses think Old Oak Common may act as the end of the line for up to a decade. The interchange will also provide Elizabeth line, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and Heathrow Express services.

It is due to be finished at some point between 2029 and 2033. Now, officials have said that initial design work is being carried out as TfL^» (Transport for London - about) aims to make sure there is level boarding at Old Oak Common.

Papers for today's Programmes and Investment Committee state: "There has been some progress in relation to the provision of level boarding for Elizabeth line rolling stock at Old Oak Common, with the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) providing support for HS2 to undertake feasibility design work to investigate the lowering of tracks. We continue to actively engage with HS2 Ltd and Network Rail on this proposal."

Peter Gow, HS2's project client director, told MyLondon in January that there were no plans at that time for level boarding to be installed at Old Oak Common. But, there are 'separate conversations' between the DfT and Network Rail about 'how they could potentially look to enable that'.

'Serious technical challenges'

Mr Gow added that officials would have to navigate 'serious technical challenges' around how they allow all the rolling stock through the station. Mr Gow also said engineers are 'trying to find a technical solution' and, if it is possible and supported by industry buy-in, bosses would 'look to implement that where they can'.

Former London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon asked the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, last year about the absence if level boarding in plans at the time. Mr Khan said: "We are looking into this, and I am more than happy for the Commissioner [of TfL] and the chair of the relevant committee to write to the Member to give her an update in relation to progress we hope to make on that.

"As she is aware, we are really proud - and she has been a critical friend of TfL in this regard - all 41 stations are step-free at the moment. It would be heartbreaking if, when High Speed 2 (HS2) comes down there was not step-free there as well."