Hunt is on for HS2 construction teams

Work to transform Euston station into a gateway to the capital fit for the 21st Century and deliver a brand new transport hub at Old Oak Common ready for the arrival of High Speed Two (HS2), took a step forward this week with the start of the search for the firms that will build the two London stations.

Overall, the investment at Euston and Old Oak Common is expected to help unlock 79,000 jobs and 29,000 homes around the stations, attracting businesses and housing developers to what will be some of the best connected locations anywhere in the UK. Contracts for HS2’s Birmingham stations, that are expected to unlock close to 52,000 jobs and almost 6,000 new homes, will follow in 2018, with all the new stations ready to welcome their first passengers in 2026.

HS2 services will eventually connect over 25 destinations and 30 million people across the UK. Trains will serve existing city centre stations in places like Glasgow and Liverpool, as well as brand new purpose built stations in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, and the East Midlands.

Bidders for both contracts are expected to be invited to tender by the end of the year, with contract award in autumn 2018. Market engagement has already begun for the Birmingham stations and the procurement process is expected to begin early next year with contract award in 2020.The procurement process for the construction of the Birmingham stations, which have shorter lead-in times, is expected to begin in 2018 with contracts awarded in 2020.

Courtesy of HM Government
Image credit: Richard Rogerson