New North Main Line - Future Developments

Future Developments

In April 2013 a decision by HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport to recommend further bore tunnelling under the 9km of the 'Northolt Corridor' and most likely directly under or near the New North Main Line in the London Borough of Ealing was announced in an HS2 Ltd press release. An HS2 station is also proposed for the line at Old Oak Common, provisionally known as 'Crossrail interchange', for connections between the proposed high-speed line and Crossrail. The additional tunnelling under the New North Main Line will keep the line free for other potential future passenger services.

The tunnel will minimize blight for residents and businesses in the area and eliminate the substantial impact of traffic which a surface route would otherwise have caused. The further bore tunnelling will link up the tunnels already planned beneath South Ruislip and Ruislip Gardens and Old Oak Common to North Acton. HS2 Ltd found in a study they had undertaken that bore tunnelling this stretch of the HS2 route would take 15 months less than constructing a surface HS2 route through this area, and in addition be at least cost neutral. The cost neutrality is due to the fact that 20 bridge replacements including 3.5 years to replace both road over rail bridges at the Hanger Lane Gyratory System, amenity disruption, the construction of two tunnel portals and the likelihood of substantial compensation payments would all be avoided. The proposed tunnel will be included as the preferred option in the draft Environmental Statement for the first phase of HS2. The tunnelling will mean the New North Main Line is severed in two places. It has not been decided whether the line will be restored once construction is complete.