HS2 project speeds up as experts meet in Birmingham to discuss implementation plans

HUNDREDS of firms are gearing up to bid for HS2 contracts as Birmingham prepares to stage a national conference on the high-speed rail project.

Nearly 500 firms have so far signed up to attend two supply chain conferences being held in London and Manchester.

HS2 promoters will meet firms next month to advise them on bidding for a £10bn worth of contracts on the first phase of the high speed rail route which links Birmingham and London.

Phase One of HS2 is forecast to create 9,000 construction jobs, 1,500 permanent jobs and 30,000 jobs in station redevelopment areas.

Construction is planned to start on this stage of the line in 2017 but, as Construction Enquirer reports, works procurement could start to get underway next year.

HS2 chief executive Simon Kirby, is quoted as saying: “Building HS2 is a massive, long-term project – one that offers huge opportunity for large and small companies right across the country.

“To construct it; and then bring it to life will require a vast range of skills and expertise, some of which we have and some we’ll need to develop.

“To deliver a project of HS2’s scale and complexity we are committed to working with companies who share our collaborative values.”

Meanwhile Birmingham is to host a national HS2 conference tomorrow.
 
The HS2 Growth and Connectivity Conference will feature a range of leading political and industry figures including Minister of State for Transport Baroness Kramer, chair of PTEG (Passenger Transport Executive Group) David Brown and Birmingham City Council’s director of regeneration Waheed Nazir.
 
A one-day event, it has been organised by the West Midlands HS2 Strategic Board in partnership with Pteg and ULI UK (the Urban Land Institute), and will take place at Think Tank, Millennium Point.
 
The conference will examine ways to maximise the opportunities and connectivity of High Speed Rail.
 
It will also look at Lord Deighton’s HS2 Growth Task Force’s report ‘High Speed 2: Get Ready’, which examines how HS2 stations can be connected to existing local transport infrastructure.
 
Baroness Kramer said: “The West Midlands will be at the heart of the high speed rail network and HS2 will play a big part in the region’s future economic prosperity.
 
“That’s why I welcome the work the West Midlands HS2 Strategic Board and Pteg are putting in to ensure the region maximises the benefits of HS2.
 
“This new north/south railway will boost capacity, cut journey times and free space on the existing network for commuters, regional rail and freight. It is absolutely essential if we are going to successfully rebalance the economy.”
 
Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council and member of the West Midlands HS2 Strategic Board, said: “Vibrant, successful cities and their wider economic areas need high quality connectivity to support economic growth and HS2 is key to ensuring this connectivity for the West Midlands.
 
“During the last two years and through the work of the West Midlands HS2 Strategic Board, we have been working hard to ensure the region is well placed to maximise the economic benefits of the new railway.
 
“As the first region to benefit from high speed rail this conference will provide a great opportunity to share our ambitious plans for HS2 and facilitate the exchange of information and good practice in the UK and across the globe.”
 

 

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