HS2 awards design contracts

Design contracts for Phase 2b of High Speed 2 were awarded on February 9.

CH2M, Arup, an AECOM/Capita/INECO joint venture and a Mott MacDonald/WSP joint venture have been appointed to help progress the design for the new railway, which is due to open in 2033.

The appointments follow an 11-month competitive process, during which seven multi-national bidders were invited to tender for four packages of work.

CH2M will become Phase 2b Development Partner, and work with teams from Arup, AECOM, Capita, INECO and Mott MacDonald/WSP.

HS2 Ltd said they will provide expert engineering and environmental support for development of the route north of Crewe to Manchester and from the West Midlands to Yorkshire, with a hybrid Bill expected to be presented to Parliament in 2019.
Government gave the go-ahead in November last year for the sections of the route between Crewe and Manchester, and between Birmingham and Leeds via Sheffield and the East Midlands, subject to some specific route refinements which are under consultation.