SIDELINES
Bidders shortlisted for £2bn track and systems contracts
HS2 has announced the shortlisted bidders for its track systems, switches and crossings, and tunnel and lineside mechanical and electrical (M&E) systems contracts.
Worth more than £2billion, the contracts cover around 174 miles of high-speed track on Phases 1 and 2a of the new railway between Euston, Birmingham and Crewe. The winning bids are expected to be announced next year.
Track systems contracts are split into four lots: London/ Birmingham Urban, valued at £434m; Open Route Central (£526m); Open Route North (£566m) and Phase 2a (£431m). Balfour Beatty Group, ETF SAS, TSO SAS (BBVT Joint Venture), Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall (Ferrovial-BAM Joint Venture), Colas Rail have been shortlisted for all four lots, with STRABAG AG UK/Rhomberg Sersa UK also invited to tender for Lots 1,2 and 4.
Meanwhile, the winner of the estimated £498mTunnel and Lineside M&E package will design, supply, manufacture, install, test, commission and maintain (until handover) a wide range of tunnel and lineside systems in tunnels, shafts and cross-passages, tunnel ventilation systems and low voltage power services and distribution in the open route. Alstom, Balfour Beatty Bailey JointVenture and Costain Group have been shortlisted for this contract.
A further competition to supply around 180 high-speed switches and crossings worth up to £156m was also launched on December 16. The deal covers Phases 1 and 2a but includes an option to extend the work required on Phase 2b’s western leg from Crewe to Manchester and HS2 maintenance depots.
The specification for HS2 switches and crossings requires them to operate reliably at up to 360kph with diverging speeds of up to 230kph. The contract also includes around 77 rail expansion devices for track on viaducts and bridges.
Tree planting moves into top gear
HS2 Ltd expects to have planted 730,000 trees between London and the Midlands by this spring.
More than 300,000 trees are being planted along the Phase 1 route this winter as part of the project’s‘green corridor’programme, which will eventually deliver up to seven million trees along the route and in neighbouring communities.
A separate £7m Woodland Fund is supporting projects to create new broadleaf native woodlands and restore existing ancient sites.
HS2 has announced the shortlisted bidders for its track systems, switches and crossings, and tunnel and lineside mechanical and electrical (M&E) systems contracts.