“I don’t see how the infrastructure around here can hold what is supposed to be one of the busiest stations in the UK,” says Ramish Hassan, 30. He has lived in Old Oak Common for about nine months, an industrial pocket of London that could be described as left behind.
The narrow roads that surround the site where Old Oak Common railway station is being constructed are crammed with traffic. The bus stops have been closed for two years and counting. Aside from a few cafes, there are few amenities in the area. Many passersby the Guardian spoke to were unaware the massive site that loomed over the area and caused them delay and disruption was part of HS2.
It emerged on Monday that the government is preparing to shelve the Manchester leg of the project and could announce that the high-speed line will no longer end at Euston – or at least not to start with, which would mean Old Oak Common would become a critical entry-point into London from many other parts of the country
Hassan says he was stuck in traffic almost every morning for 15 minutes on the narrow road beside the construction because of roadworks related to the scheme. “Being stuck on that road for 15 minutes on the way to work kills you. I work in Marlow. A 45-minute drive is now an hour and 15 minutes,” he says.
Orla Webb, 25, has lived in a new block of flats next to the Old Oak Common site for two-and-a-half years. “I moved here for the apartment I’m living in not for the surrounding area because there’s nothing here apart from roadworks and noise,” she says.
The quickest train from London Euston to Birmingham is just under 1h 20m. The HS2 train will take about 50 minutes. “It’s supposed to be high speed but the train to Birmingham isn’t that long anyway,” says Webb. “I won’t be using it. I would use it if it was still going to Manchester.”
Dereece Leigh-Gale, 27, project manager, has been living in Old Oak Common for a year-and-a-half. He is originally from Birmingham. “I guess I would use it but it’s a lot of money for the government to spend to get to Birmingham a little bit quicker than we already can. It seems like a waste,” he says.
The station is due to open between 2029 and 2033 but, considering the persistent delays and changing plans, Leigh-Gale is not confident this target will be met. “Maybe my kids will be able to use it,” he says.
Hassan also does not see a need for an HS2 that only goes to Birmingham. “We already have tonnes and tonnes of stations. We’re not too badly connected here either. I can get to Birmingham very easily,” he says.
Some reports have suggested costs for HS2 have spiralled. “I’ve heard it’s over £100bn. Is that the best use of £100bn?” says Hassan.
Abderrahmane Lambarky, 39, is the manager of the Old Oak Cafe. He has run it for 10 years on a lease that is due for renewal. He says developers have threatened to take over the site and turn it into luxury flats. Negotiations are under way to keep the cafe in the area but Lambarky is worried it will not be able to remain there.
“The pandemic was a very tough time. We got through it but now we are facing being moved,” he says.
Lambarky says the area will not be able to cope with the incoming commuters. “It’s not going to be able to handle everything,” he says.
