London Thamesport continues to play a vital role in HS2 logistics

London Thamesport is continuing to operate as a vital rail-freight logistics hub for the HS2 project, supporting the ongoing construction programme at Old Oak Common in West London.

Posted on: September 29th 2026    •    Posted in: Port operations, Rail, Sustainability

With tunnelling activity now well underway between Old Oak Common and Euston, the logistics operation supporting the project is becoming increasingly important. London Thamesport playing a further role with around 2,000 retaining wall panels currently being delivered by SCS Railways to Old Oak Common.

Old Oak Common is one of the most significant construction projects currently taking place in London. Once complete, the station will provide an interchange between HS2 and the existing railway network, including the Elizabeth line and Great Western Main Line services. The station is also being developed alongside the major HS2 tunnelling works that will eventually connect the high-speed railway with Euston.

Supporting the next stage of HS2 construction

The scale of activity at Old Oak Common is considerable. In January 2026, HS2 launched the first of two tunnel boring machines from Old Oak Common towards Euston, with the second machine following in March. Together, the machines are constructing the 4.5-mile twin-bore Euston Tunnel.

SCS JV is responsible for the London tunnels and approaches, with the wider project involving multiple construction sites across West London. The contractor’s logistics operation has been designed around moving the large quantities of materials required by these sites while also removing excavated material from the tunnelling operation
This makes efficient freight infrastructure particularly important.

Rather than moving every component by road into London, three freight trains a week are being used to transport materials directly from London Thamesport’s Isle of Grain facility towards Old Oak Common.

For large, heavy precast products such as retaining wall panels, rail provides an efficient way of moving significant quantities of material into the capital while reducing the number of individual HGV movements required on London’s already busy road network.

A proven rail-freight route for HS2

This is not the first time London Thamesport has been used to support HS2.

The port has already played a significant role in the manufacture and movement of precast concrete tunnel segments for the London tunnels. PACADAR UK manufactured HS2 tunnel segments at a dedicated facility at London Thamesport, with the location allowing the finished products to be transported by rail. London Thamesport reports that more than 300 trains have travelled between Thamesport and West Ruislip carrying tunnel segments, with an average of five trains per week during that phase of the project.

The use of rail has also had a significant impact on road movements. The tunnel segment operation has removed approximately one million miles of lorry journeys from Britain’s roads.

With 99 hectares of land, established rail connections, deep-water access and experience supporting major infrastructure schemes, London Thamesport continues to provide the flexible logistics infrastructure required to keep major construction projects moving.