HS2 Ltd has announced the successful bidders for the critical rail systems contracts, marking a significant step forward for the UK’s high-speed rail project.
The contracts, valued at approximately £3 billion, will cover the design and installation of essential railway systems, including track, signalling, communications, and power supply, across the 140-mile route between London and the West Midlands.
The successful bidders, who will be formally contracted after a 10-day standstill period, are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs across the UK.
The rail systems will be delivered under a collaborative Rail Systems Alliance structure, fostering cooperation among the various contractors to ensure efficient delivery and cost-effectiveness. This approach will facilitate seamless integration of design, access, resource allocation, and logistics.
As civil engineering works on HS2 reach their peak, the rail systems contractors will commence the initial design phase, ensuring a smooth transition and timely mobilization once the civil works are completed.
The successful delivery of these rail systems will be instrumental in realizing HS2’s vision of a modern, high-speed railway that will revolutionize travel and boost economic growth in the UK.
Track Systems, Lots 1, 2 & 3
- Ferrovial Construction / BAM Nuttall JV
Ferrovial BAM will oversee the design and construction of the HS2 track infrastructure, manage construction logistics and support the testing and commissioning phase. They will act as Principal Contractor for works associated with the trace and be responsible for logistics and consents co-ordination.
The work covers the route from Old Oak Common to the terminus at Birmingham Curzon Street. It includes the design and construction of the Infrastructure Maintenance Depot at Calvert, the interface with Washwood Heath Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot and the permanent connection to the existing rail network at Handsacre Junction.
Switches and crossings and pre-cast slab track forming the HS2 track system will be delivered through existing contracts with Voestalpine and PORR UK – with the Track Systems contractor coordinating the design, logistics and installation. Rail will be supplied through Network Rail.
Overhead Catenary Systems (OCS)
- Colas Rail Limited
Colas Rail will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the Overhead Catenary Systems (OCS).
They will use the leading-edge V360 OCS design range under licence from SNCF Reseau to develop the next stages of design for HS2 Ltd. This system was the first in Europe to be certified for speeds of up to 360km/h and will provide power to the state-of-the-art high-speed trains.
Operational Telecommunications and Security Systems
- Siemens Mobility Limited
Siemens will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, safety authorisation, testing, commissioning and initial maintenance of the state-of-the-art operational telecommunication systems and the route wide security systems. Spare capacity on the optical fibre network could also be sold to third party providers to help boost broadband access for more isolated rural communities.
Third Party Telecommunications
- Hitachi Rail GTS UK Limited and Telent Technology Services Limited JV (TTJV)
TTJV will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, safety authorisation, testing, commissioning and initial maintenance of the systems, which will provide the mobile communications for customers to use, as well as the emergency services and the station data network.
Command, Control, Signalling & Traffic Management (CCS&TM)
- Siemens Mobility Limited
Instead of traditional coloured lights, HS2 will use a digital Command, Control, & Signalling (CCS) and Traffic Management (TM) system that will support faster and more frequent services.
Siemens will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, supervision, inspection, safety authorisation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of the CCS & TM systems until handover to trial operations as well as ongoing technical support services of the CCS & TM systems.
Engineering Management System
- Siemens Mobility Limited
The digital engineering management system will enable remote supervisory control of railway assets and systems by key operational and maintenance personnel allowing the UK to run some of the world’s most reliable, safe and efficient high-speed rail services.
Siemens will be responsible for design, manufacture, supply, installation, integration, testing, commissioning and maintenance of an integrated Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) solution that will be used across the whole network – and up to 25 years of technical support.
This will enable the status of HS2’s operational railway assets and systems to be monitored and controlled in real time from the Network Integrated Control Centre in Birmingham and other key locations, facilitating both the safe operation and reliable maintenance of the railway.
A separate contract to deliver the Washwood Heath depot and Network Integrated Control Centre, will be awarded next year.
