Written evidence from Jeff Travers (HSR
151)
This written submission provides evidence relating to
the HS2 proposed strategic route at the London end.
My name is Jeffrey Travers I am an architect and
have extensive experience of design and contract administration
of rail projects. I was detuty to the director of the newly privatised
British Rail Architects Department (NDDA) the designers of
Ashford Internation Station for HS1. I took over from Alastair
Lansley OBE when he became project architect for St Pancras
International Station. I was also architect on Waterloo Jubilee
Line Station. I was also project architect for Croydon Tramlink
though the architectural work was limited to tram stops and a
large depot.
My evidence is as follows:
At the HS2 Euston roadshow I queried why Old
Oak Station was not proposed as the main London terminus for HS2
in view of the space constraints of Euston (as well as the tunnelling difficulties
and disruption to existing homes and services in getting the line
through to Euston). I was told by HS2 senior staff that there
was insufficient space at Old Oak Common for a terminal. I checked
the consultation documentation and found that although
there appeared to be plenty of space, most of this space was earmarked
for a 17 track depot for Crossrail adjacent to the proposed HS2
station. I returned to the roadshow the next day and asked senior
engineers from Arup why the proposed Crossrail Depot was located
at Old Oak Station. They told me that they had argued with Crossrail
that the depot should be relocated so the HS2 Old Oak Station
could be the terminus but Crossrail insisted on going ahead with
the design tender for the Old Oak Depot because otherwise they
would not meet their contract obligations. Arup engineers said
that the Old Oak site was potentially the best connected site
in the country for such a terminus and they were very disappointed
that they were forced to expand Euston with all its difficulties.
They said the Crossrail depot would only last
a few years once the commercial value of the depot site was realised
We all agreed that this is no way to make strategic
decisions.
May 2011
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