THE first piles have been installed at the site of the future Brent Cross West station on the Midland Main Line in north London.
The work involves concrete being pumped 15 metres below ground before a reinforced cage can be built to house the future foundations.
Barnet council said 135 piles would go in between now and the end of the year, and that the concrete will be pumped in using special crossings under the railway. Two piling rigs are on the site, and each are installing two piles a day.
The £40 million station is part of the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme, and up to eight Thameslink trains will call every hour. Work to clear the site began in June 2019, and the main works are due to be completed in 2022.
London Borough of Barnet Council leader Cllr Daniel Thomas said: ‘The new station is at the heart of our vision for the area, which will connect Barnet’s new park town to central London and beyond. After years of work and planning we have reached this key landmark, which marks the official start of construction, on time despite challenges faced by the pandemic. Between now and the end of 2022, Barnet council and VolkerFitzpatrick will be working hard on construction.’