HS2 Ltd has awarded contracts worth around £3bn for work to turn almost 140 miles of tunnels, bridges and earthworks between London and the West Midlands into an operational railway.
The government-owned company said the ‘rail systems’ contracts, which cover track, signalling, communications, and other systems. mark the beginning of a new stage for the project.
The successful companies will design and install around 280 miles of track capable of speeds of up to 225mph (360km/h) as well as power supplies and signalling equipment.
In addition, a network of optical fibre cabling will form the railway’s central nervous system – providing signalling and communications for staff and passengers.
Laid out end-to-end, these cables would stretch for more than 1,200 miles, HS2 Ltd said.
A Ferrovial/BAM Nuttall joint venture will build all the track.
HS2 Ltd said the contracts are collectively worth around £3bn but did not give individual values.
It said the main rail systems contractors will be brought together under a collaborative Rail Systems Alliance structure designed to manage the interfaces between them and resolve any conflicts in the programme. All members will collaborate on design, access, resources and logistics to achieve common goals for cost and schedule.
The initial design stage of the work will run parallel with the completion of the civil engineering – which is currently at its peak – so that the rail systems contractors are ready to mobilise to site as soon as the civils are complete.
Highfurlong Brook Viaduct
The successful bidders
Track Systems, Lots 1, 2 & 3
A Ferrovial Construction/BAM Nuttall JV will oversee the design and construction of the HS2 track infrastructure, manage construction logistics and support the testing and commissioning phase. They will act as principal contractor for works associated with the trace and be responsible for logistics and consents co-ordination.
Overhead Catenary Systems
Colas Rail Limited will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the Overhead Catenary Systems. Operational Telecommunications and Security Systems
Siemens Mobility Limited will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, safety authorisation, testing, commissioning and initial maintenance of the operational telecommunication systems and the route wide security systems.
Third Party Telecommunications
A Hitachi Rail GTS UK Limited and Telent Technology Services Limited joing venture will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, safety authorisation, testing, commissioning and initial maintenance of the systems, which will provide the mobile communications for customers to use, as well as the emergency services and the station data network.
Command, Control, Signalling and Traffic Management
Siemens Mobility Limited: Instead of traditional coloured lights, HS2 will use a digital Command, Control, and Signalling and Traffic Management system that will support faster and more frequent services.
Engineering Management System
Siemens Mobility Limited: The digital engineering management system will enable remote supervisory control of railway assets and systems by key operational and maintenance personnel.
The contracts will be signed after the statutory 10-day standstill period
