HS2 in Brent and Ealing – Key information

These look aheads provide you with information about HS2 works and developments taking place in Brent and Ealing.

This section provides you with information about HS2 works and developments taking place in Brent and Ealing, and how we’re managing the impacts of construction.

The Euston tunnel will carry high-speed trains between London Euston station and Old Oak Common station. The 4.5-mile (7.2km) twin-bore tunnel will reach depths of up to 50 metres below ground. It will be excavated using two tunnel boring machines (TBMs), Karen and Madeleine, which will be launched from the eastern section of Old Oak Common station.

Canterbury Works headhouse

We’re building eight ventilation (vent) shafts in London to support the high-speed railway. These vent shafts ventilate the tunnels for the railway and provide emergency access. The Canterbury Works vent shaft will connect to the Euston Approaches to Northolt Tunnels. Above each vent shaft will be a headhouse, including one at Canterbury Road.

The Canterbury Works headhouse is located in South Kilburn, behind Canterbury Road and Canterbury Terrace and next to the existing railway tracks.

The site sits within residential areas to the west and south. Locally listed Canterbury House is to the south and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is to the east.

After consulting the local community on the designs of the future Canterbury Works Headhouse, we have reduced the size of the vertical vent stacks to the minimum required dimensions and height. We also reduced the size of the chimneys.

Works at the Canterbury Works Ventilation Shaft and Headhouse site were brought to a ‘safe stop’ in September 2024. Until mid-July 2026, the welfare facilities at the Canterbury Works site will be used during core hours by our staff. Waste material will also be stored on site to support utilities works in South Hampstead.

Settlement is the technical term for the way ground moves around a hole after it’s been dug out.

A settlement deed is a formal legal agreement between you and us. It records the protection your property already has under the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017.

We’re installing a high-voltage connection to power the Westgate ventilation shaft and headhouse site.

The works will take place on the footpath and embankment on West Gate, near Hanger Lane Gyratory.

Most of the route through London will be in tunnel. This includes about 3 miles (5km) of tunnel in Ealing between Victoria Road in North Acton and the boundary with Hillingdon.

Here’s some information about support available for you.

We’ve proposed designs for the Victoria Road Crossover Box headhouse and plant room.

In July 2025, we produced design proposals for the auto-transformer station, boundary wall, access road and security lighting. We shared them with members of the public ahead of planning submission to the local planning authority. We also provided designs in September 2024.

The Northolt Tunnel will carry passengers between Old Oak Common Station and West Ruislip, where the high-speed railway emerges from underground. Spanning 8.4 miles (13.5km), the twin-bore tunnel will be used by trains travelling from Birmingham to London (upline), and from London to Birmingham (downline).

The Mandeville Road Headhouse in Ealing is one of four shafts along the Northolt Tunnel route of HS2. It is located on the old Affinity Water pumping station off Mandeville Road, Northolt. This is a residential area with Northolt Station to the west and the Network Rail corridor to the south.

Currently, works are ongoing to build the ventilation shaft and satellite shaft with works to build the headhouse building planned from early 2025.