It’s only week one in the railway calendar and the team working to build London’s newest train station had a bumper Easter weekend, installing new track and remodeling the railway layout to make way for the new Brent Cross West station.

Teams from across Network Rail, Amey and VolkerFitzpatrick led by Mace, worked hard to make the most of being ‘in possession’ of the railway line over the bank holiday weekend. The possession meant the Midland Main Line was closed between West Hampstead and Mill Hill Broadway while teams carried out the remodelling works on the existing main line. Completing the first of three major weekends of work to remodel the layout and lay the  new track that will serve the new station platforms.

The first train pulled into the new tracks early on Monday morning (5 April 2021), so passengers between Hendon and Cricklewood will now get the opportunity to see Brent Cross West’s platforms being constructed. Using an innovative construction technique, VolkerFitzpatrick’s teams who are building the new station are working behind fencing allowing them to continue construction whilst trains continue on their journeys.

The new Brent Cross West train station will have four platforms serving the Midland Main Line between Hendon and Cricklewood stations. With the first of three remodelled tracks completed the team will turn their attention towards remodelling the track for the space needed to create the station’s ‘fast’ platforms next month during the May bank holidays.

A digger at work during the bank holiday works

There is also agreement to provide passive provision within the station for when the planned West London Orbital (WLO) train line comes forward. The WLO is a proposed extension to the London Overground being promoted by the TFL and Network Rail alongside the West London Alliance and west London borough councils to improve connectivity and reduce journey times across west to northwest London.

VolkerFitzpatrick also completed their planned works to install 35 more piles to the slow line platform this weekend. A real team effort was needed to co-ordinate the different works happening across the site and achieve another huge milestone. The station is firmly on track for completion next year and is due to open in December 2022.

Read more about the planned Brent Cross West train station and how it will serve existing communities in Brent Cross and the future Brent Cross Town.