HS2 News
SIDELINES
HS2 Ltd chairman to depart in July
ALLAN Cook CBE, chairman of HS2 Ltd, submitted his resignation to the Department for Transport in late January and will leave his role at the end of July.
Mr Cook, who joined the company in December 2018, has helped to guide the project through the 2019 Stocktake, the Oakervee Review and the Notice to Proceed in 2020. His first term as chairman was set to end in December this year.
Mr Cook said:“I feel privileged to have provided more certainty on schedule and cost, to have helped embed a strong environmental and sustainability focus, and establish a culture of openness and transparency.”
The DfT has started the search for Mr Cook’s successor.
Old Oak Crossover Box under way
CONSTRUCTION of the Victoria Road Crossover Box, close to Old Oak Common in London, is now under way. The 130-metre-long underground structure will allow HS2 trains to switch tracks on their approach to the new West London interchange.
Located west of the station site, the box is 24m below ground and will have the same volume as 55 Olympic swimming pools. HS2 trains will be able to switch tracks at up to 62mph on their approach or departure from Old Oak Interchange. Victoria Road will also be the launch point for the Northolt tunnel boring machines which will start to dig 3.4 miles northwest later this year.