Powering HS2 in North London

WCS won a bid to provide the civil engineering design for two of the HV circuits that will transmit power to HS2 at Old Oak Common.

To power this part of HS2, our client UK Power Networks will be supplying 45 MVA of electrical power. New systems will be required to transmit this power from the National Grid substation site at Willesden Grid to the newly built HS2 Atlas Road Substation.

Initially, we were asked to provide surveys for the project area, and to explore options for the engineering solution. Subsequently, we were approved to provide the detailed civil engineering design for two 33kV cable circuits delivering power to the HS2 substation. The route of the cabling, through busy north London, means passing through and under Network Rail infrastructure and across the Grand Union Canal via a bridge. This is a complex and challenging project, requiring liaison with HS2, National Grid, Network Rail, the Canal & River Trust and SCS Railways.