HS2 prepares framework for Manchester link
TRANSPORT campaigners calling for the immediate development of the HS2 high speed rail link have received a boost with a new announcement from the company looking to build the £32bn railway.
HS2 Ltd said in a statement on its website that it is looking to appoint engineering and environmental consultants to work on the second phase of the massive scheme.
The statement says: “HS2 Ltd is looking to appoint a number of engineering and environmental consultants to a new Professional Services Framework (PSF) for the second phase of the planned high speed rail network that will release much needed capacity on our rail system and connect up our major cities.
“This is to help deliver the engineering and environmental work needed to develop Phase 2 of HS2 that links Birmingham to Manchester and to Leeds through the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, as well as a spur connection from the Phase 1 line to Heathrow.”
HS2 Ltd said it would be in a position to enter into the new Phase 2 PSF when Transport Secretary Justine Greening published her preferred route options for the railway. An announcement from the Department for Transport is expected in the autumn.
HS2 said a number of companies had been invited to tender for the work, which is split into two lots: Engineering Services and Environmental Services.
Firms nominated in the first lot are: AECOM, Arup, Atkins, Halcrow, Hyder, Jacobs, Mott MacDonald and the WSP–Parsons Brinckerhoff Joint Venture.
Firms bidding for the environmental services contract are: Arup, Atkins, Halcrow, Mott MacDonald and the Temple-RSK JV.
Although the Government gave the go-ahead for the HS2 scheme in January there has been little significant development of late.
Campaigners in favour of the route were hoping the line would be included in the raft of legislation pledged in the Queen’s Speech but the scheme was omitted amid claims the Coalition Government was anxious not to upset voters in places such as Amersham, where there have been criticisms the railway will destroy the local environment.
Then in May, further doubt was cast after reports civil servants had branded the scheme too risky due to difficulties likely to be faced with its delivery.
The 100-mile rail link to Birmingham was scheduled to be built between 2016 and 2026. A Y-shape spur north of Birmingham will allow for phase two of the project, which will see separate high speed lines laid linking the network to Manchester and Leeds. It would cut journey times between Manchester and London by around 50 minutes to 70 minutes.
