HomeHigh Speed RailHS2 design to start

HS2 design to start

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Despite all the rumbling from the inhabitants of southern England, HS2 continues to plan for the future.

Atkins has been awarded the contract to prepare the preliminary designs for the two high-speed running lines through the Country South section – a 91km stretch covering Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.

The contract is worth £13.3 million and includes the design work for the Colne Valley Viaduct, the twin bore tunnels under the Chilterns and a range of new ‘green’ tunnels (which are specifically designed to blend in with the surroundings).

David Tonkin, Atkins’ UK chief executive officer, said:

“HS2 is an important step towards providing the UK with the world-leading infrastructure and additional rail capacity needed to deliver sustainable economic growth.

“As well as designing a high-quality, cost efficient railway, we have to be very aware of how we minimise the impact the construction and operation of the line could have on the communities through which it will travel, and we will work closely with HS2 Ltd, rail systems designers, environmentalists and land referencing companies in order to achieve this.”

Work will start immediately and will be completed to coincide with the introduction of the HS2 hybrid bill to Parliament by the end of 2013.

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18 COMMENTS

  1. Ooh, something else for career nimby Joe Rukin to feel hard done by about. What’s it like when your entire reason for living is to contribute nothing useful to society and just whine and whinge instead? Is there a recognised medical condition to describe a perpetual feeling of being hard done by and that everything should meet with your approval? Or is it just the ego-stroking that comes with the public recognition of being recognised as the country’s most prolific moaner?

    • Most of the country would moan if they were aware that £36bn of their taxes is set to be wasted on a rich person’s railway at the expense of the poor. But why post as “no2nimbyism” when objections are based on flaws in business, environmental and economic grounds rather than the desire to move HS2 into someone else’s back yard. As it’s presumably not in your back yard, you are clearly the nimby here.

      • because the only reason why these so called flaws are repeated over and over again is because those against hs2 dont want it built near them and are prepared to say anything that might in their opinion stop the project.

        the most ironic thing is that those against this nationally beneficial project on environmental grounds are quite willing to support rp2 and upgrading other lines elsewhere so they are happy to support proposals that will move disruption elsewhere ! and rp2 provides benefits mostly to the areas against hs2. this is fair enough but doesnt provide the national benefits of hs2

    • Thank you sir for your superbly structured fact-based argument, which does not even display the slightest hint of vitriolic demonisation I have come to expect from anonymous critics. In light of such an erudite epistle, the like of which I have never seen, I may have to reconsider my stance, forego my ‘entire reason for living’ and throw myself in front of the next train.

  2. Happy to note that despite opposition,HS2 has awarded contract for preparation design.I would want that Atkins publish a map through which HS2 will traverse with all the attendant repurcussions.This will help to appreciate the development,environmental concern and the affected people enroute.

    • Just a pity you failed to mention the role mitigation can have on reducing the environmental &/or social impacts of major infrastruture projects required in the national interest

        • That is your opinion, but it is worth mentioning that more than 26 million people voted for the 3 main political parties, who had all included support for High Speed Rail in their election manifestos, in the May 2005 General Election.

          • So if I understand your point correctly this means that the 44 million people in this country who did not vote Tory/Lib/Labour must have been totally opposed to HS2. Sounds like a significant majority against the proposals to me.

          • If people decide not to vote in a General Election, then their vote is wasted; by what twisted logic can the anti-HS2 brigade claim their support?

          • this is exactly the same twisted logic as your implication that a vote for con/lib/lab is a vote for HS2. On this basis the only way someone can register their disapproval is by not voting. QED. (However of course in reality the way people voted in the last election had exactly nothing to do with whether they supported HS2 or not, and the point I am trying to make is that your own argument of ‘you voted for this’ is just pro-HS2 spin without substance. When asked directly more than 50% of the population do NOT agree with HS2.)

          • A vote for a party that has a manifesto committment, is a vote for that policy. If the anti-HS2 brigade don’t like it, then they should put up their own candidates at the next general election (2015?)

  3. In 10 years time China plan to have an operation Vactrain, and in 14 years we plan to have this… Best advert for communism ever

  4. Quite clear the pro-HS2ers are all hoping to pick up some crumbs from the table, they are all looking for some personal benefit irrespective of the economic arguments, lack of business case, damage to the environment and the fact that it will have to be subsidised by the taxpayer for decades – let alone that regional and local transport will be cut back to justify it. You who are pro-HS2 – you are a selfish and gullible lot – it seems you are happy for the taxpayer to fork out something like £80 billion (including rolling stock and operating costs and cost overruns etc etc) – just to stick a few quid in your pockets and to justify a childish vanity project – never mind the damage to the real economy eh, so long as you’re happy.

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