A growing number of firms are considering joining forces on joint ventures designed to maximise their chances of winning work on HS2, it has emerged.
British infrastructure firms Kier and Carillion have announced they will team up with France's Eiffage in the hope of being shortlisted to bid for the first set of HS2 tenders in September.
The companies join a number of joint ventures expected to bid for work on the £50bn high speed rail project, including possible collaborations between firms like Ferrovial, BAM Nuttall and Morgan Sindall and Costain and Skanska, according to reports.
Carillion, Kier and Eiffage boast extensive experience in the rail sector with Carillion having worked on the construction and maintenance of Channel Tunnel Rail Link (High Speed 1) and Eiffage currently constructing the Bretagne to Pays de la Loire project, a high speed rail scheme due for completion in May 2017.
As well as being involved in Crossrail, Kier is currently constructing the new £450m six-lane toll bridge over the River Mersey as part of the Mersey Gateway scheme.
Carillion chief executive, Richard Howson, said: 'We are delighted to announce the formation of this new joint venture that brings together three companies with world-class skills and resources, and an absolute focus on safety and quality, which will be required for the successful delivery of the High Speed 2 programme.’
Haydn Mursell, chief executive, Kier said: ‘The Government has signalled its ongoing commitment to the project, in the recent Queen's Speech and with [the] revisions to the HS2 hybrid Bill, so the formation of this joint venture is well timed to respond to the progression of what will be the country's largest infrastructure project to date.’
