HS2 appoints contractors for Crewe route

THREE firms have been appointed to begin the work to bring high speed rail to the region six years early.

The contractors will provide detailed structural design and environmental services on the route between Birmingham and Crewe.

The winning firms will also help HS2 Ltd prepare a second hybrid bill to provide the powers to bring the new rail link as far as Crewe by 2027, one year after the rest of Phase One.

They are:  Ove Arup & Partners International (civils and environmental services); WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff (railway systems) and  Mouchel site access, land referencing and stakeholder engagement services).

HS2 chief executive Simon Kirby said: “Bringing HS2 to Crewe six years early will dramatically boost connectivity and improve journeys for millions of people travelling between London, the Midlands and the major cities of the north.

“That’s why I’m pleased to confirm that we have appointed Arup, Mouchel and WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff to help us push forward with the next stage of the detailed design and help prepare the draft legislation we will need to get Birmingham to Crewe open by 2027.”