LONDON (Metro Rail News): With the decision to move ahead with HS2 earlier this yr, HS2 Ltd has on April 15, 2020, marked the next action for the project after publishing Notice to proceed to the companies which would move construction work on Britain’s new High-Speed Rail network.
Project-Highlights
- High Speed-2 project reaches the next stage as JV companies get approval to start detailed design & construction phase
- Notice to proceed process marks formal permission for the main development works to start the following a decision earlier this yr to continue with the project
- Development to start in line with Public Health England advice meanwhile the coronavirus outbreak
After deliberate consideration of the independent Oakervee review, the PM proved to Parliament in Feb 2020 that the project can start to deliver vital changes to capacity & connectivity over the Midlands & North, alongside a reform package to enhance governance at HS-2 to assure the project is passed better & more efficiently. A time when the development area faces uncertainties through the coronavirus outbreak, issuing Notice to proceed gives a vote of confidence in companies and the wider supply chain financing HS2.
Following the decision ahead this yr to continue with the project, this next step gives thousands of development workers and businesses over the country with conviction at a time when they want it and means that work can begin on delivering this transformational project.
The four work packages are for complete detailed design and development of HS2 Phase-I railway. By the contracts, small & medium businesses have the guarantee of a pipeline of action for the future serving to protect jobs & increase certainty for them in the existing climate.
The JV that are responsible for each package of work would be able to start work in line with Public Health England’s guidance throughout development work continuing while the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, in a way both secured to the workers and the public.
Joint Ventures Names, originally awarded tenders by HS2 Ltd in July 2017:
However, Stations, rolling Stock, railway systems and other non-civils contracts are not part of the contract already awarded.
Contractor | Joint venture | Contract Value | work scope |
SCS Railways | Skanska Construction UK Ltd, Costain Ltd, Strabag AG | £3·3bn | development of Euston Tunnels and Approaches, Northolt Tunnels |
Align JV | Bouygues Travaux Publics SAS, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick, a subsidiary of VolkerWessels UK | £1·6bn | development of Chiltern Tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct |
EKFB JV | Eiffage Genie Civil SA, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Ltd, BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Agroman | £2·3bn | development of North Portal Chiltern Tunnels to Brackley, Brackley to South Portal of Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel |
BBV JV | Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, VINCI Construction Grands Projets, VINCI Construction UK Ltd, VINCI Construction Terrassement | £4·8bn | development of Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel to Delta Junction and Birmingham Spur, Delta Junction to West Coast Main Line Tie-In (Handsacre Junction) |
The Transport Department has also published the complete business case HS2 Phase-I setting out the strategic & economic case for the project and outlining how it would deliver a positive result on investment, alongside boosting capacity & connectivity needed in towns & cities over the country by delivering on the govt levelling up plan.