The Best Way to Link HS2 to HS1 at Euston

Why It Matters

A direct HS2‑HS1 connection at Euston would create a unified high‑speed corridor, boosting capacity and London’s role as a national transport hub, but it also entails substantial construction challenges and urban disruption.

Key Takeaways

• Proposes deep underground HS2‑HS1 link beneath Euston station.
• Suggests phased construction: surface station first, then underground expansion.
• Enables through‑running services to southeast and Channel Tunnel.
• Requires extensive tunnelling, new shafts, and integration with Crossrail 2.
• Anticipates capacity boost but acknowledges major civil‑engineering disruption.

Summary

The video examines a concrete proposal to connect HS2 with HS1 by constructing a deep underground link beneath London’s Euston terminus. The author critiques the current surface‑level plans and argues that a subterranean “box” station, similar to Glasgow’s Enoch Street project, would better integrate the two high‑speed networks.

The suggested scheme unfolds in three stages: an initial surface station to maintain service, followed by excavation of a large underground cavern that houses through‑running platforms, and finally a full integration with existing underground lines and the future Crossrail 2 hub. By routing HS2 tunnels under King’s Cross and joining them to HS1, the design would allow trains to continue southeast toward the Channel Tunnel, effectively creating a north‑south high‑speed corridor.

Key details include the 400‑metre length of HS2 trains, the need for parallel tunnelling to avoid undermining residential foundations, and the potential reuse of demolished buildings as station entrances. The presenter likens the concept to the Crossrail 2 alignment, noting that escalators and deep‑level access would be essential.

If realised, the link could unlock significant capacity gains and seamless passenger transfers across the UK’s high‑speed network. However, the project would demand massive civil‑engineering effort, extensive planning permissions, and temporary disruption to Euston Road and surrounding neighborhoods.

Original Description

Watch Episode 161 of #Railnatter here: https://www.youtube.com/live/MIOLyqjpybc

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