The plans, obtained by news outlet London Centric, show how an HS2 terminal could be added to the existing rail station at Euston, potentially with six full-length platforms supplemented by several shorter ones.
London Centric also uncovered comments from TfL, made at the end of last year, arguing that the terminus could not accommodate HS2’s influx of new travellers.
The revelations come after the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, announced last month (19 May) that the opening of HS2 was being further delayed until 2036 at the earliest. She also confirmed there would be a significant jump in the cost of the project – up to a maximum of £102 billion – and that the route would run at a lower top speed of 199 mph instead of 224 mph as originally planned.
The document contains quotes from a confidential internal briefing from late 2025, in which TfL bosses laid out issues with the plans as they were at that time.
Image obtained by London Centric showing leaked current design options for the new station at Euston
It reads: ‘The station could hit capacity constraints within six years of operation. That would likely mean TfL would have to object to commercial development plans in the local area, and would limit the ability of HS2 to run additional services … thus hindering the potential expansion of the network and impacting the Midlands and the North to a greater extent.’
Referring to designs under consideration in late 2025, TfL bosses argued that they lacked sufficient funding to bring Euston Station up to the traveller capacity required by new HS2 trains, and that the additional costs would end up falling on London institutions.
They also voiced concerns about the amount of space dedicated to shops, housing and offices in the proposals, which would not only restrict the station’s future expansion, but also attract even more passengers and cause years of disruption from construction works.
Images of up-to-date plans obtained by London Centric show the existing station remaining mostly intact, while an underground HS2 terminal has been added to the station’s western side, currently occupied by a building site.
The plans include space for three shorter platforms to be added in the future to expand services to Manchester or Scotland.
However, the siting of new commercial buildings (see below) would mean these platforms could not be extended to full length, should demand require it at a later date.
Image obtained by London Centric showing the new underground level
While TfL has not confirmed whether its concerns have since been addressed, it told the AJ that the comments obtained by London Centric have since been ‘superseded’.
A TfL spokesperson said: ‘We are working closely with our partners on proposals to ensure that [our] infrastructure at Euston can meet future demand and deliver the best possible experience for our customers when HS2 services begin.
‘Plans for the wider Euston campus, including Euston London Underground station, remain under development, and earlier comments referred to options under consideration at that time, which have now been superseded.’
In March, all delivery partners involved in the scheme, including TfL, confirmed their support for a single spatial plan for Euston, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).
A DfT spokesperson said: ‘TfL, as well as other partners, are directly involved in developing affordable, joined-up plans for Euston.
‘This includes the new HS2 station and upgrades to existing Network Rail and London Underground stations, alongside commercial development across the site.’
In June last year, Allies and Morrison was tasked by master developer Lendlease with drawing up a new masterplan for the 24ha oversite development, which will sit above the HS2 and Network Rail station. Allies and Morrison replaced Prior + Partners.
Just days after this announcement, the AJ revealed that RSHP was working on plans for the redevelopment of the station.