HS2 LATEST NEWS

13.6.24

Rail supplies to the rail industry is part of what we do at Ryder Services. We’re talking rail profiles, components, bridge timbers, timber and concrete sleepers (new & serviceable) and crossing timbers. Naturally, we keep a close eye on all things rail-related, including the latest news about the troubled HS2 project. Let's first take a look at few key HS2 timeline events.

HS2 WAS SET TO BE A GAME CHANGER

High Speed 2 (HS2), whose plans were officially revealed in March 2010, was supposed to be a game changer for the UK’s transport infastructure. The project got the green light in January 2012 and promised the full Y-shaped network with stations in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and the East Midlands. It was going to be delivered in two phases, starting with Birmingham to London and followed by the arms of the Y.

Also promised at the time was: “High-speed trains will also connect seamlessly with the existing West Coast and East Coast main lines to serve passengers beyond the HS2 network in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Durham, York, Darlington, Liverpool, Preston, Wigan and Lancaster”.

Work officially began in September 2020 and after lots of controversy and rumour, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak finally pulled the plug on phases 2a and 2b – which would have extended HS2 services from Birmingham onto Manchester, via Crewe, and Leeds – in October last year.

WHEN IS HS2 LIKELY TO BE COMPLETED?

HS2 will now run between London Euston and the West Midlands. It’s expected to be finished between 2029 and 2033. Skanska Costain Strabag is the joint-venture team of contractors working on the zone leading to the station, known as Euston Approaches, and in March 2023 and to defer the soaring costs of the scheme, transport secretary Mark Harper announced a two-year hiatus on the works. The Guardian reports that as a result of the pause, much of 3,500-strong workforce has been redeployed within the firms, with some continue preparing the future tunnels out of Euston. This inludes a giant concrete box where HS2 trains will switch lines to different platforms.

THE VERY LATEST HS2 NEWS AS OF JUNE 2024

According to the Hs2 official website: ‘HS2 will transform the way we move between our major cities, with zero-carbon journeys between Birmingham and London and services then continuing onwards to Manchester, the North-West and Scotland on the existing railway network.’ Here's some of the very latest HS2 news from across the internet.

Mark Wild named new HS2 CEO

Mark Wild has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of HS2. Mark used to be CEO of Crossrail and joins the project with civil engineering works along the route from London to the West Midlands reaching completion while focus begins to shift to building the railway infrastructure.

HS2 seeks contractors

According to Construction News, HS2 Ltd has launched a £600m framework designed to put the finishing touches to the project as work at Euston nears completion. Work might include civil, environmental, maintenance, the construction of temporary assets including roads and buildings, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing jobs. It's currently a prior information notice (PIN), with the job not divided into lots. However, the structure of the package could change if market responses suggest it is necessary.

Contractors initially interested in the work had to register by Wednesday 5 June, with further market engagement also anticipated in the second and third quarters of 2024. HS2 expects to publish a contract notice in late October, but it declined to comment on the online PIN when approached by Construction News.

Lib Dems would review the northern leg of HS2

And finally for this blog, the Liberal Democrats say they'd review the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2 if they win the General Election. Their manifesto states that it would be’ a genuinely convenient, affordable and environmentally-friendly option for both passengers and freight.’

Sources:

Construction News

Hs2.org.uk

The Guardian

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