High Speed 1

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  • Eurostar
  • High Speed 1 tunnel, England
  • Eurostar at St Pancras Station, London
  • Channel Tunnel Rail Link -  tunnel boring machine
  • Medway Crossing under construction
  • St Pancras Station, London

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Image 1 of 8 Eurostar

Key facts

Client:
London and Continental Railways Ltd
Country:
United Kingdom 
Date:
1996-2007

Awards

Project of the decade, London Transport Awards

Judges’ supreme award, Construction News Quality Awards

Project over £50 million and judges’ supreme award, Quality in Construction Awards

My warmest congratulations go to everyone involved in this project, which is a wonderful illustration of what can be achieved through working in partnership…The remarkable rebirth of this great and gleaming station means that people across the whole of Britain, not just the south east, are suddenly quite a bit closer to Europe.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

One of Europe’s largest ever infrastructure projects and the UK’s first high-speed railway, the award-winning High Speed 1 links central London with Europe’s rail network via the Channel Tunnel.

Halcrow was a member of the Rail Link Engineering consortium, responsible for all design and project management services on this landmark scheme, and was instrumental in delivering the £5.8 billion project on time and within budget.

Completed in two sections, the 109km route features over 3,000 new structures including three viaducts over 1km in length and 150 bridges. A ‘mega project’ in every sense, High Speed 1 comprises three international stations and a depot, along with 32km of tunnels and related structures including the UK’s largest rail tunnel.

Halcrow’s extensive expertise in design, project management and procurement was integral to the project’s success. Halcrow’s environmental team carried out environmental impact assessments and other measures to help reduce environmental impact, while the planning team led the major traffic works around St Pancras station.

Supporting development and regeneration projects worth £10.5 billion to south east England and the Thames Gateway region, High Speed 1 paves the way for future high speed services within the UK. With the Olympics coming to London in 2012 it will shuttle passengers quickly and efficiently to the Stratford site, bolstering the capital’s transport network.

Client testimonials

“A key to the successful delivery of High Speed 1, on time and within budget, has been the teamwork and partnership led by LCR and its stations and property division (LCSP), Eurostar and, of course, Rail Link Engineering – an incredibly powerful blend. I congratulate everyone involved.”
Rob Holden, chief executive, London & Continental Railways

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Contact details

Garry Whitaker - press office

Asia, Australasia, Africa, Europe and the United Kingdom 

t: +44 (0)1793 812479