Victoria Station Upgrade (VSU)
Victoria, London, UK · 2010–2019 · £700 million (2019 prices)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launch* Use of NEC3 contracts (ECC Option C and PSC) to promote collaborative working and manage risks effectively. * Co-location of all project team members from the beginning to enhance relationships and foster a "best for project" ethos. * Innovative construction techniques, such as installing a unique system of needles to underpin existing District and Circle lines during underpass construction, allowing trains to continue running. * Effective use of early warnings and risk-reduction meetings to mitigate impacts of unexpected ground obstructions and redundant services.
Key engineering challenges
* Carrying out works in a highly congested urban environment while keeping the station operational for up to 300,000 daily users. * Excavating new access tunnels in fast-moving gravels and sands, less than 30cm from the Victoria line and 60cm from District and Circle lines. * Managing complex ground conditions and protecting nearby operational assets. * Minimizing impact on local stakeholders in a densely populated urban environment.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Transport for London (TfL), London Underground Limited (LUL)
- Lead contractor
- Taylor Woodrow / Bam Nuttall Joint Venture
- Lead designers
- Mott MacDonald
- Project type
- upgrade
- Scale
- Doubled subterranean station size, 300m of new passenger tunnels, 9 new escalators, 8 new lifts.
- Disciplines
- Civil; structural; mechanical; electrical; systems; geotechnical
- Standards & frameworks
- NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC Option C); NEC3 Professional Services Contract (PSC); London Underground standards; CDM Regulations
Sources: * NEC Contract (Undated), "Victoria Station upgrade, London Underground, UK", https://www.neccontract.com/projects/victoria-station-upgrade-london-underground-uk * European Investment Bank (Undated), "Victoria Station Upgrade", https://www.eib.org/attachments/registers/57159063.pdf