Category Archives: Issues

Monster HS2 update

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HS2 Works Notification: Update on overnight conveyor bridge removal at the West Ruislip site – 14 June to 1 July 2025
Tunnel construction from West Ruislip to Greenford completed in March and works are underway to remove tunneling support structures inside and outside the tunnels. 
We will be removing the first of the conveyor bridges at the West Ruislip Portal site, next to the Chiltern Mainline railway.
Due to the location next to the railway, we need to carry out these works overnight when trains are not running.
We will work overnight from 10pm to 5am on 14 June to 20 June, 22 June, 23 June and 28 June to 1 July.
We continue to monitor noise, dust and vibration throughout our works to ensure we have measures in place to minimise disruption.
Upcoming engagement
HS2 Information Hub. Visit us at the portacabin on the right of the West Ruislip Portal entrance, Ickenham Road. Mondays and Wednesdays, 2pm to 4pm. Specific sessions on these works on the following dates: 7 July and 4 August 2025.
Virtual Northolt Tunnel 1:1s. Every third Monday of the month. To sign up for a 1:1 meeting, please visit HS2 & SCS Virtual Drop-ins: Hillingdon Northolt Tunnel West Tunnelling Works
For further details and copy of notification letter, please follow this link.
You can find out more about what is happening in your area using the In Your Area pages of the HS2 website.
·  New Harvil Road Resurfacing – Full Road Closure – Mon 11/08 to Fri 29/08 (Provisional Dates)
he long awaited LBH resurfacing of Harvil Road between the junction with Swakeleys Road and HS2 Gate 1 Site has now been provisionally scheduled to take place from Mon 11/08 until Fri 29/08. 
This will be a Full Road Closure in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in order to get this large area of road completely resurfaced.  
These are provisional dates that will be confirmed in the next couple of weeks once the Contractor and LBH Highways Team are confident that the works can be completed within this specified timeframe. If these works can be delivered across 19 days it will be a big reduction on the initially quoted 4 week Full Road Closure which would mean less disruption for users of Harvil Road in getting these essential works completed. 
During the Road Closure access maintained for residents of Harvil Road only during the Road Closure and the U9 Bus will have to be on Diversion. 
The confirmed dates and the Diversion Route will follow over the next couple of weeks.  
There is also a scheduled Road Closure of Breakspear Road South from Fri 29/08 at 8pm until Sun 31/08 at 8pm but this will be dependent on LBH completing the resurfacing works by Fri 29/08.
 
New Breakspear Road South Road Closure – Fri 29/08 at 8pm until Sun 31/08 at 8pm
 
HS2/SCS have agreed with LBH that Breakspear Road South will be closed at the Chiltern Railway Bridge from Fri 29/08 at 8pm until Sun 31/08 at 8pm while the Conveyor Bridge that oversails the Highway is removed
The Conveyor Bridge carries the Conveyor system that was used to transport the TBM Spoil/Material over Breakspear Road South towards the Treatment Area at Harvil Road Gate 1. Now that both TBMs have completed their tunnelling between West Ruislip and Greenpark Way in LB Ealing the Conveyors are being removed and the Bridges that carry the Conveyor can also be removed. 
These works will involve laying Matting on the road surface to protect it, then using a Crane to lower the Bridge to ground level before dismantling and removing it. The road would then be cleared with the Matting removed before reopening to the public. 
This has been scheduled for the last weekend of the school summer holidays and also allows LBH to complete their planned LBH resurfacing works which will close Harvil Road prior to this from 11/08 to 29/08.
 
The Diversion Route has now been confirmed with HS2/SCS and is the usual Diversion via Swakeleys Road, Ickenham High Road, Bury Street, Breakspear Road
 
New Removal of the Concrete Lining around Pond 5 on the SSPA – Mon 23/06 to Fri 19/07
 
There will be works starting to remove the concrete lining around Attenuation Pond 5 within the SSPA site boundary near Breakspear Road South (Copthall Farm). 
These works will take place during core working hours (Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm & Sat 8am to 1pm) from Mon 23/06 to Fri 19/07. 
The removal will be carried out in stages using hydro saw cutting, which helps manage dust during the process. There will also be an increased number of operatives and site vehicles accessing the area via the flood response gate (Copthall Farm HGV entrance). 
These works are necessary to allow landscaping to begin in that part of the site. The siltbuster system will remain in place throughout to support water management.
 
New Piling and Drainage Installation works for Noise Barrier in West Ruislip Embankment area – 30/06/25 to 27/03/26
 
From 30/06/25 to 27/03/26 HS2/SCS will be carrying out works for the construction of the Noise Barriers along the HS2 route between the Copthall Tunnel and West Ruislip Portal. These works will be happening during Core Hours only (Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm & Sat 8am to 1pm). 
The Noise Barriers will be installed in the areas shown in the Red Box on the Map below. HS2/SCS will start by installing Concrete Piles to stabilise the ground, followed by the installation of Drainage Systems.  
The works will be carried out in 3 Phases: 
• 30/06/25 to 11/07/25 = Phase 1 – West of the Breakspear Road South to the HS2 Bridge
• 14/07/25 to 06/11/25 = Phase 2 – HS2 Breakspear Road South Bridge to HS2 River Pinn Bridge
• 22/09/25 to 27/03/26 = Phase 3 – East of the HS2 River Pinn Bridge to West Ruislip Portal
 
 

HS2 noise barrier creation

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HS2 Works Notification: Piling and drainage installation works for noise barrier sites – 30 June 2025 to 27 March 2026

From 30 June 2025 to 27 March 2026, we will be carrying out works for the construction of the noise barriers along the HS2 route from Copthall Tunnel to West Ruislip Portal sites.

We will start by installing concrete piles to stabilise the ground, followed by the installation of drainage systems. Our working hours will be Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 1pm.

You may notice periods of increased noise during these works. However, noise monitoring will take place throughout the works.

For further details, please follow this link.https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/piling-and-drainage-installation-works-for-noise-barrier-sites/#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=26889400-a8ba-4723-931f-95b135d40200

and this  https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Piling-and-drainage-installation-works-for-noise-barrier-sites.pdf

HS2 works update

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New Harvil Road Resurfacing – Full Road Closure – Mon 11/08 to Fri 29/08 (Provisional Dates) 
The long awaited LBH resurfacing of Harvil Road between the junction with Swakeleys Road and HS2 Gate 1 Site has now been provisionally scheduled to take place from Mon 11/08 until Fri 29/08. 
This will be a Full Road Closure in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in order to get this large area of road completely resurfaced.  
These are provisional dates that will be confirmed in the next couple of weeks once the Contractor and LBH Highways Team are confident that the works can be completed within this specified timeframe. If these works can be delivered across 19 days it will be a big reduction on the initially quoted 4 week Full Road Closure which would mean less disruption for users of Harvil Road in getting these essential works completed. 
During the Road Closure access maintained for residents of Harvil Road only during the Road Closure and the U9 Bus will have to be on Diversion. 
The confirmed dates and the Diversion Route will follow over the next couple of weeks.  
There is also a scheduled Road Closure of Breakspear Road South from Fri 29/08 at 8pm until Sun 31/08 at 8pm but this will be dependent on LBH completing the above resurfacing works by Fri 29/08.  
 
New Breakspear Road South Road Closure – Fri 29/08 at 8pm until Sun 31/08 at 8pm 
HS2/SCS have agreed with LBH that Breakspear Road South will be closed at the Chiltern Railway Bridge from Fri 29/08 at 8pm until Sun 31/08 at 8pm while the Conveyor Bridge that oversails the Highway is removed (Conveyor Bridge shown in the photo below). 
The Conveyor Bridge carries the Conveyor system that was used to transport the TBM Spoil/Material over Breakspear Road South towards the Treatment Area at Harvil Road Gate 1. Now that both TBMs have completed their tunnelling between West Ruislip and Greenpark Way in LB Ealing the Conveyors are being removed and the Bridges that carry the Conveyor can also be removed.  
These works will involve laying Matting on the road surface to protect it, then using a Crane to lower the Bridge to ground level before dismantling and removing it. The road would then be cleared with the Matting removed before reopening to the public. 
This has been scheduled for the last weekend of the school summer holidays and also allows LBH to complete their planned LBH resurfacing works which will close Harvil Road prior to this from 11/08 to 29/08. 
I will confirm the details of the Diversion Route once confirmed with HS2/SCS but it is likely to be the usual Diversion via Swakeleys Road, Ickenham High Road, Bury Street, Breakspear Road
New Construction of Tunnel Walkways from West Ruislip Portal – May 2025 to Feb 2026 
With the tunnelling now completed on the 2 tunnels between West Ruislip Portal and Greenpark Way Vent Shaft, the next stage is to build tunnel walkways inside the tunnels. There will be 2 walkways built inside each tunnel, a narrow walkway for maintenance access and a wider walkway to be used to safely evacuate passengers in case of emergency (once the railway is operational).  
In order to be build these walkways there will be concrete deliveries by lorry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week between the end of May 2025 and Feb 2026 to the West Ruislip Portal Site off Ickenham Road. 
The lorries will deliver ready-mixed concrete to electric pumps located behind a 2 metre high wall at the tunnel entrance (see map overleaf). The concrete will be pumped through a pipe into the concrete mixer truck and taken into the tunnels. The walkways will be built along the entire length of the tunnel using a Formwork system (Formwork is a temporary structure which shapes the walkway). The concrete is poured into the Formwork until it hardens, with the Formwork system being moved along the inside of the tunnel until the walkways are completed. 
HS2/SCS do not expect that these works will be noisy above ground as they will all take place within the tunnels, but there will be concrete deliveries by lorry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 
 
 

Met’ line timetable changes

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Important changes to the Metropolitan line timetable
Monday 2 until Thursday 5 June
The next phase of the Four Lines Modernisation Programme will be introduced over the weekend of Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June.
To help embed this latest upgrade to the signalling system, a temporary timetable will be in place between Monday 2 and Thursday 5 June.
There will be changes to train times throughout the day and fewer peak hour services will run.
Visit tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey,   https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/?cid=plan-a-journey to check for train times. 
Also   https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/#metropolitan
  METROPOLITAN LINE: Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June, no service between Aldgate and Watford. Trains will continue to operate between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham / Chesham, but operate non-stop between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Moor Park. CHILTERN RAILWAYS services continue to operate between Marylebone and Amersham. Replacement buses operate. Replacement buses operate:Service JL1: Stonebridge Park (for Bakerloo and Lioness lines) – Wembley Park – Kingsbury – Queensbury – Canons Park (Honeypot Lane) – Stanmore;Service JL2: Finchley Road – West Hampstead (buses towards Finchley Road only) – Kilburn – Willesden Green – Dollis Hill – Neasden – Wembley Park;Service ML1: Stonebridge Park (for Bakerloo and Lioness lines) – Wembley Park – Preston Road – Northwick Park Hospital – Harrow-on-the-Hill – (Saturday until 1700 continuing to/from West Harrow (Pinner Road) – North Harrow (Station Road) – Rayners Lane);Service ML2: Harrow-on-the-Hill – West Harrow (Pinner Road) – North Harrow (Pinner Road) – Pinner – Northwood Hills – Northwood – Rickmansworth – Croxley – Watford;Service ML3: Limited early morning and late evening journeys: Baker Street – Harrow-on-the-Hill; Harrow-on-the-Hill – Stonebridge Park;Service ML5: Northwood – Moor Park;
From Friday 6 June the summer timetable, which was introduced on Monday 14 April, will resume.
 

HS2 works update

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New Breakspear Road South Road Closure – Fri 29/08 at 8pm until Sun 31/08 at 8pm
 
HS2/SCS have agreed with LBH that Breakspear Road South will be closed at the Chiltern Railway Bridge from Fri 29/08 at 8pm until Sun 31/08 at 8pm while the Conveyor Bridge that oversails the Highway is removed (Conveyor Bridge shown in the photo below).
 
The Conveyor Bridge carries the Conveyor system that was used to transport the TBM Spoil/Material over Breakspear Road South towards the Treatment Area at Harvil Road Gate 1. Now that both TBMs have completed their tunnelling between West Ruislip and Greenpark Way in LB Ealing the Conveyors are being removed and the Bridges that carry the Conveyor can also be removed.
 
These works will involve laying Matting on the road surface to protect it, then using a Crane to lower the Bridge to ground level before dismantling and removing it. The road would then be cleared with the Matting removed before reopening to the public.
 
This has been scheduled for the last weekend of the school summer holidays to minimise disruption and to also allow LBH a larger window of opportunity to schedule in the planned LBH resurfacing works which will close Harvil Road for a likely 4 week period earlier in the summer holidays (dates to be finalised).
 
I will confirm the details of the Diversion Route once confirmed with HS2/SCS but it is likely to be the usual Diversion via Swakeleys Road, Ickenham High Road, Bury Street, Breakspear Road
 
New Construction of Tunnel Walkways from West Ruislip Portal – May 2025 to Feb 2026
 
With the tunnelling now completed on the 2 tunnels between West Ruislip Portal and Greenpark Way Vent Shaft, the next stage is to build tunnel walkways inside the tunnels. There will be 2 walkways built inside each tunnel, a narrow walkway for maintenance access and a wider walkway to be used to safely evacuate passengers in case of emergency (once the railway is operational).
 
In order to be build these walkways there will be concrete deliveries by lorry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week between the end of May 2025 and Feb 2026 to the West Ruislip Portal Site off Ickenham Road.
 
The lorries will deliver ready-mixed concrete to electric pumps located behind a 2 metre high wall at the tunnel entrance (see map overleaf). The concrete will be pumped through a pipe into the concrete mixer truck and taken into the tunnels. The walkways will be built along the entire length of the tunnel using a Formwork system (Formwork is a temporary structure which shapes the walkway). The concrete is poured into the Formwork until it hardens, with the Formwork system being moved along the inside of the tunnel until the walkways are completed.
 
HS2/SCS do not expect that these works will be noisy above ground as they will all take place within the tunnels, but there will be concrete deliveries by lorry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 

HS2 works update

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Harvil Road Night Time Road Closures for Snagging Works – Mon 28/04 to Mon 19/05 
The 3 weeks of Night Time Road Closures of Harvil Road were completed on Mon 19/05 in time for the 5am opening of the road.  
All of the Snagging works along the new section of Highway between the Dogs Trust and HS2 Gate 1 have now been completed and the maintenance responsibility for this section of road has now been handed over from HS2 to LBH.
Construction of Tunnel Walkways from West Ruislip Portal – May 2025 to Feb 2026 
With the tunnelling now completed on the 2 tunnels between West Ruislip Portal and Greenpark Way Vent Shaft, the next stage is to build tunnel walkways inside the tunnels. There will be 2 walkways built inside each tunnel, a narrow walkway for maintenance access and a wider walkway to be used to safely evacuate passengers in case of emergency (once the railway is operational).  
In order to be build these walkways there will be concrete deliveries by lorry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week between the end of May 2025 and Feb 2026 to the West Ruislip Portal Site off Ickenham Road. 
The lorries will deliver ready-mixed concrete to electric pumps located behind a 2 metre high wall at the tunnel entrance (see map overleaf). The concrete will be pumped through a pipe into the concrete mixer truck and taken into the tunnels. The walkways will be built along the entire length of the tunnel using a Formwork system (Formwork is a temporary structure which shapes the walkway). The concrete is poured into the Formwork until it hardens, with the Formwork system being moved along the inside of the tunnel until the walkways are completed. 
HS2/SCS do not expect that these works will be noisy above ground as they will all take place within the tunnels, but there will be concrete deliveries by lorry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Map below shows the location of the works:
Demobilisation works at West Ruislip Portal Site – March to Sept 2025 
With the 2nd Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Caroline completing her tunnelling journey to Greenpark Way Vent Shaft in April 2025, works will continue to remove tunnelling support structures inside and outside the tunnels at West Ruislip Portal Site. There will be demobilisation and removal works carried out for the following:  The conveyor structure – ongoing The launch chamber entrance – ongoing Rail siding – ongoing Gantry cranes and segment yard – ongoing Conveyor bridges – to be scheduled  
Removal of the Conveyor Structure – January to July 2025
HS2 have started dismantling and removing the Conveyor Structure by crane from within the West Ruislip Portal entrance from 02/01/25 with these works expecting to take until July 2025 to complete. The 1st Phase of these works will be removing the Conveyor Structure from the Downline Tunnel (as Sushila has completed her tunnelling) and then out into the Tunnel Portal at West Ruislip Now that TBM Caroline has completed tunnelling in April 2025 then the process will be repeated for the Upline Tunnel Then finally all of the remaining Conveyor Structure can be removed all the way from West Ruislip Portal along to the Treatment Area at Harvil Road Gate 1 Site. and Removal of Rail Siding at West Ruislip Portal – March to June 2025   The last Night Time delivery of TBM Segments by Railway to the West Ruislip Portal took place on 14/03 so now works have begun to decommission and remove the Rail Siding that accesses the HS2 Site from the main Chiltern Railway Line.   The track and ballast have now been removed, with the ballast being donated to the Bluebell Railway in West Sussex (see link below for more information):   HS2 donates 4,000 tonnes of ballast to Bluebell Railway | RailBusinessDaily   It is expected that the Rail Siding will be completely removed by June 2025.

HS2 works update

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Updated Harvil Road Night Time Road Closures for Snagging Works – Mon 28/04 to Mon 19/05
 
Please note that the remainder of the Bridge Inspections on the HROC Bridge are no longer required as HS2 deem that they have enough data from those already completed to determine any remedial works required to the Welds going forward.
 
That means the current 3 Week Night Time Road Closures on Harvil Road as detailed below are now only to complete outstanding snagging works:
 

  • drainage cover repairs on the carriageway
  • white lining (weather dependant)
  • sealant works on the parapets on the new bridge along Harvil Road
  • snagging works along the footpath on Harvil Road to repair paving defects and cracks

 
There are Road Closures 7 Nights of the week, with extended hours on a Friday and Saturday Night Shift. I have detailed the dates and times of the Road Closures below:
 

Mon 28/04 at 11.59pm – Tue 29/04 at 5am Mon 05/05 at 11.59pm – Tue 06/05 at 5am Mon 12/05 at 11.59pm – Tue 13/05 at 5am
Tue 29/04 at 11.59pm – Wed 30/04 at 5am Tue 06/05 at 11.59pm – Wed 07/05 at 5am Tue 13/05 at 11.59pm – Wed 14/05 at 5am
Wed 30/04 at 11.59pm – Thur 01/05 at 5am Wed 07/05 at 11.59pm – Thur 08/05 at 5am Wed 14/05 at 11.59pm – Thur 15/05 at 5am
Thur 01/05 at 11.59pm – Fri 02/05 at 5am Thur 08/05 at 11.59pm – Fri 09/05 at 5am Thur 15/05 at 11.59pm – Fri 16/05 at 5am
Fri 02/05 at 9.30pm – Sat 03/05 at 6am Fri 09/05 at 9.30pm – Sat 10/05 at 6am Fri 16/05 at 9.30pm – Sat 17/05 at 6am
Sat 03/05 at 9.30pm – Sun 04/05 at 6am Sat 10/05 at 9.30pm – Sun 11/05 at 6am Sat 17/05 at 9.30pm – Sun 18/05 at 6am
Sun 04/05 at 11.59pm – Mon 05/05 at 5am Sun 11/05 at 11.59pm – Mon 12/05 at 5am Sun 18/05 at 11.59pm – Mon 19/05 at 5am

 
Update 16/05 – HS2/SCS have confirmed that works are progressing well and that the Road Closure has been in place each night as planned (see photos below). The works are on time to be completed on time with the last Night Shift scheduled to take place Sun 18/05 into Mon 19/05 at 5am:
Updated Demobilisation works at West Ruislip Portal Site – March to Sept 2025 
With the 2nd Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Caroline completing her tunnelling journey to Greenpark Way Vent Shaft in April 2025, works will continue to remove tunnelling support structures inside and outside the tunnels at West Ruislip Portal Site. There will be demobilisation and removal works carried out for the following:
 

  • The conveyor structure – ongoing
  • The launch chamber entrance – ongoing
  • Rail siding – ongoing
  • Gantry cranes and segment yard – ongoing
  • Conveyor bridges – to be scheduled

Updated May 2025 – Below is a Table & Map that shows the indicative demobilisation works programme over the next few months: 

Updated Decommissioning and Removal of Rail Siding at West Ruislip Portal – March to June 2025 
The last Night Time delivery of TBM Segments by Railway to the West Ruislip Portal took place on 14/03 so now works have begun to decommission and remove the Rail Siding that accesses the HS2 Site from the main Chiltern Railway Line. 
The sequence of the works begins with the removal of the track happening first, followed by the removal of the ballast. It is expected that the Rail Siding should now be completely removed by June 2025.

Proposed changes to bus routes

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TfL is proposing changes to to bus routes 698, 697 and new school route 695

Consultation link: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/route-698?cid=route-698

Proposals

To improve school bus services for The Douay Martyrs Catholic School, we propose to:

  • Introduce a NEW school bus route 695 between West Drayton and The Douay Martyrs Catholic School via Falling Lane and Cherry Lane
  • Reroute school bus 698 between Hayes and The Douay Martyrs Catholic School via Hayes Town and Bourne Avenue
  • The last stop on school bus routes 698, 697 and 695 would be at Swakeleys Drive, instead of Ickenham Station
  • School bus routes 698 and 697 would no longer stop at Hillingdon station in either direction

Benefits of the proposals include:

  • Faster journey times for West Drayton, Yiewsley and Hayes
  • More capacity where it’s needed
  • Encourage students to travel by bus, instead of car

(and even more buses parking up in Long Lane waiting to pick up students!!!)

HS2 event May 15

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from HS2


We would like to invite you to a community drop in event.

• Date: Thursday 15 May 2025
• Time: 4pm to 7.30pm
• Venue: Ickenham Village Hall, 33 Swakeleys Road, Ickenham, Uxbridge UB10 8DG

Our engagement team and technical specialists will be available to update you and answer your questions on the following areas:
• Construction of Headhouse at West Ruislip
• Update on Tunnelling progress
We will use drone footage of HS2 sites in the area to show how construction is progressing.

For further details please follow this link. https://www.hs2.org.uk/events/hs2-scs-community-event-ickenham-village-hall/#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=bac77dec-f629-4c9c-9ed8-9a9554bb0000