The search has started for specialist contractors to deliver the high voltage power supply systems to HS2.
The winner of this latest rail systems contract – worth an estimated £523m – will be responsible for the design as well as manufacture, supply, installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of the HV power supply systems.
Approximately 50 traction sub-stations will be built alongside the line between London and Crewe to deliver power from the National Grid to the trains. The contractor will also deliver a dedicated HV non-traction power network that will provide power to stations, shafts, portals, depots and railway systems along the route.
Once operational, HS2 will be one of the lowest carbon ways to travel, with just 8g of carbon emitted per passenger kilometre – in comparison to 67g by car and 170g by air. Electricity will come from the national grid, so as the UK’s power supply transitions to entirely renewable sources, journeys on HS2 will become carbon neutral.
Hs2 procurement and commercial director David Poole said: “The high voltage power supply is a vital part of the HS2 project and the successful bidder will play a crucial role in keeping our network running safely and reliably. I look forward to the HS2 team working with the suppliers who come forward and together ensuring that we deliver best quality and value for the project.”
The HV Power Systems contract will be a single stage procurement, with the successful bidder delivering two separate contracts covering Design & Build and Maintenance services within Phase One and Phase 2a – from London to Crewe, where HS2 services will join the existing west coast main line.
The traction power sub-stations are located at multidisciplinary Railway Systems Compounds which are situated in the open route section of the line. The contractor will assume the role of Principal Contractor within these compounds. The successful bidder will be expected to work closely with HS2’s other rail systems suppliers to ensure integration of its design and throughout construction, testing and commissioning.
A shortlist is expected to be announced next year, with contract award in 2022.
Network Rail has Stuart Calvert as the new lead of the Capital Delivery Centre of Excellence as the organisation continues to improve the delivery of major projects and investment on the railway.
Stuart will take up the role in addition to his current position as capital delivery director for the Wales and Western region.
The Centre of Excellence was established as part of the Putting Passengers First (PPF) programme and focuses on the planning and delivery of projects, providing confidence that benefits will be delivered for passengers and freight users.
Stuart Calvert, who will build on his experience with Bombardier and Jacobs as well as Network Rail, said: “I am really looking forward to the challenge of leading on the Delivery Centre of Excellence as we continue to try and improve the way we work for passengers.”
Mark Langman, Network Rail’s regional managing director for Wales and Western, added: “I am delighted for Stuart and It’s great news for us that he has been asked to lead this team and help shape it so that it delivers the right things to support our investment programme.”
HS2 enabling works contractor, LMJV (Laing O’Rourke and J. Murphy & Sons Joint Venture) has installed a 65-metre bridge, spanning the width of the M42, in just two days and ahead of schedule as the motorway reopened 22 hours earlier than planned.
The works near Interchange Station move Solihull a step closer to the arrival of HS2, Britain’s new low carbon high speed railway.
LMJV worked with Laing O’Rourke subsidiary Expanded Structures and bridge builder Cleveland Bridge to construct the new 2,750-tonne bridge structure, which was then carried along the motorway on a self-propelled modular transporter.
The 448-wheel transporter took just one hour and 45 minutes to move the bridge span 150 metres, where it was affixed to a composite concrete deck to complete the overall bridge structure. Traditional construction methods would have required several weeks of lane closures on both carriageways, followed by additional weekend and overnight closures.
HS2 CEO Mark Thurston, who was joined by Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor, to observe the bridge being moved into place, said: “This new road bridge is the first permanent structure to be installed along the route of Britain’s new railway. Today represents an important milestone for the project and the West Midlands region – which is already benefiting from thousands of jobs and renewed investment as a result of HS2.
“Constructing the bridge off site and using innovative engineering practices to install it over the motorway enabled us to carry out the work in just two days, keeping disruption to a minimum for road users”.
The successful installation marks the completion of the first of four bridges to be built close to the new Interchange station. It will form part of the major remodelling of the regional road network to improve the circulation of traffic around the HS2 railway line and connect the existing road network to the new Interchange Station.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands said: “Seeing major construction activity like this in Solihull is hugely encouraging as it shows HS2 is now truly underway. In just a few years, the HS2 station at Interchange and further investments in public transport will help make Solihull one of the best-connected places in the UK.
“Today’s work also comes at a critical time for the West Midlands, as we look to bounce back economically from the coronavirus crisis. Major infrastructure projects like HS2 have a critical role to play as they help stimulate demand and create and secure local jobs for local people”.
HS2 is already transforming the region, spearheading regeneration and economic investment in Birmingham and surrounding towns, including Solihull. Interchange station is at the heart of the UK Central Hub growth area which will create 70,000 new and safeguarded jobs, up to 5,000 new homes and 650,000 square metres of commercial space.
Companies from the Midlands and the North played a leading role in the construction of the deck components and supply of the 1,130 tonnes of steel plate girders and 1,610 tonnes of precast and in-situ concrete.
Simon Russell, LMJV project director, said: “This is British construction, design and engineering innovation at its finest.
“Major components of the bridge and its supports were built offsite under safe, high quality conditions, then transported to site for assembly. Advanced digital capabilities allowed us to design all elements of the structure in a virtual world, before building it for real, and I am delighted that the work was completed safely and ahead of schedule”.
Further work in preparation for the arrival of HS2 is scheduled to take place later this year. A similar bridge placement will be installed over the A446, ahead of two more bridge structures being installed which will span the new high-speed railway line.
Over 9,000 people and 2,000 UK businesses have been part of the HS2 journey so far, and it is estimated that the project will support at least another 20,000 roles as it hits peak construction.
The Edinburgh Waverley Masterplan, developed by Network Rail, City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government, includes plans for transforming the capital’s main station as part of the Edinburgh Waverley Masterplan.
It envisions a station that is a vital part of the city, with a major new public space on Waverley Bridge providing views of the iconic city skyline. It will be a station that puts people first, providing easy access for all, and creating vital city connections for walking, cycling and public transport.
As part of the concept design, the Masterplan partners are proposing a new mezzanine concourse across the whole station that will help deliver better access to Waverley from the surrounding streets, enable the creation of fully-accessible entrances and increase circulation space for passengers.
Masterplan Waverley Bridge.
The new mezzanine will also provide the opportunity to extend the operational platforms below, create new facilities to cater for future growth in passengers and services and also help improve the all-round experience for people using the station.
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity in the Scottish Government, said: “The Masterplan has produced an exciting concept design which delivers a station that can meet operational requirements for the longer term and improves accessibility for all by addressing, through its use of a mezzanine floor, the complex levels around the station.
“By introducing new points of access in key areas, this plan will ensure the station becomes a seamless gateway to the Old and New towns of Edinburgh and one that encourages greater commuter, business and leisure use alike.
“The next stage of design work will see how 21st century functionality can be incorporated within the historical setting of Waverley so that we deliver a station that can meet operational requirements for the longer term and deliver a fantastic user experience for everyone.”
Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “We believe there is a compelling case for making ambitious changes to Waverley which will improve the station for our customers while respecting the history and heritage of this listed structure.
“The Masterplan is a wonderful example of the private and public sectors working closely alongside government to develop innovative and ambitious plans for the capital.
“Waverley has always played a key role in the life of the city and the plans we have unveiled today will help to ensure it continues to do so in the years ahead as we all play our part to revitalise our economy and put the impact of the current pandemic behind us.”
Cllr Adam McVey, leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “These concept designs represent a significant next step for the project and for the city. They portray an accessible, connected station fit for the Scotland’s Capital, and we welcome the benefits this will bring to the city centre – and to our residents, commuters and visitors. It’s crucial that the station expands capacity to accommodate the growth in passengers and improves accessibility.
Masterplan 1 Alex Hynes (left) Michael Matheson and Adam McVey.
“This will not only help Edinburgh be better connected but help us achieve a more equal, carbon-neutral future, with rail well integrated with bus and tram, pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users and those with other mobility issues.
“As such, we’ll continue to provide input into the development of the Masterplan in the coming months and years. But, equally, we’ll have an important role to play in monitoring and scrutinising the project’s progress, ensuring it conserves our city’s unique heritage and aligns with our own plans for the city centre, whether that be through City Centre Transformation, or developing a wider vision for the Waverley valley.”
Network Rail engineers protecting the Cumbrian Coast line from extreme weather and erosion have rebuilt a section of public slipway used to launch lifeboats.
To access the headland at St Bees for the railway protection work, as part of an £8 million project to improve reliability for passengers and freight, engineers used the slipway which is also used extensively by the nearby St Bees Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
St Bees lifeboat ramp being repaired.
But it appeared the slipway also needed attention after being battered by the elements and the railway team lent its help to Copeland Borough Council to fix it. Concrete washed away over the years by pounding waves and rocks was re-laid, restoring the slipway and ensuring its availability for the community and the lifeboat station – helping to save lives at sea by keeping the charity’s lifeboat station in operation.
Craig Jackson, works delivery manager for Network Rail, said: “It was the least we could do to fix the slipway at St Bees and also allow the RNLI to continue its fantastic work.
“While we were there with all the construction equipment it was only right to fix the slipway while we were carrying out our £8m Great North Rail Project scheme to protect the railway from coastal erosion.
“It’s great that our essential work to secure the long-term future of this vital railway route for passengers and freight on land, has now also benefitted those who find themselves in trouble at sea.”
Gerard Burns, RNLI regional estates manager, said: “I’d like to say a massive thank you to Network Rail for their assistance in repairing the concrete slipway at St Bees. Thanks to the team’s hard work, the lifeboat station has been able to remain in service.”
Jeffrey Hailes, Copeland Councillor for St Bees, on the far right with three RNLI volunteers.
Jeffrey Hailes, Copeland councillor for St Bees, said: “I’d like to thank Network Rail and everyone involved in this important project. There is now a safe access for our dedicated RNLI team when they are being called out to sea, and a safe route for the public to access the beach. This work is much valued by the whole community.”
The Great North Rail Project work to stabilise the railway at St Bees is now complete. It involved installing 230 metres of ‘rock armour’ to secure the base of a headland from coast erosion risking the railway above.
A 180-year-old viaduct in Todmorden, Lancashire, that was designed by railway pioneer George Stephenson, is undergoing a multi-million-pound restoration to improve passenger journeys and secure its future for generations to come.
The 1840-built Grade II listed Gauxholme viaduct will be grit blasted to its bare metal for structural repairs to take place in a £3.7 million investment project. The important piece of railway heritage, which spans the Rochdale canal, will then be deep cleaned and repainted back to its Victorian splendour.
Taylors bridge, which carries the railway over Rose Bank Road near Todmorden station, will also be completely reconstructed with two disused sections permanently removed as part of the same investment.
Aerial photo of Gauxholme Viaduct.
Both projects mean the railway through Todmorden will be entirely closed from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November.
Network Rail scheme project manager Kathryn Berry said: “This work to restore the impressive Gauxholme viaduct and renew Taylor’s bridge is essential to improve passenger journeys through Todmorden.
“The Great North Rail Project investment will secure this important piece of railway heritage for generations to come.
“We have been working closely with Calderdale Council on our plans and thank passengers, road users and the local community in advance for their patience while we deliver this essential work.”
During the nine-day railway closure there will be no trains between Blackburn and Manchester via Todmorden.
Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “The upgrade and repair work near Todmorden is key to future-proofing the rail network in the area and will give Northern customers a modern infrastructure for many years to come between Hebden Bridge and Rochdale.
“We’re working closely with Network Rail to keep disruption to a minimum and will be providing rail replacement transport while the work is carried out. More details of these provisions will be available via the Northern website in the near future.”
Gauxholme Viaduct 4 August 2020.
Craig Whittaker, MP for Calder Valley, said: “I am incredibly delighted that funding in the region of £3.7m is being invested locally to restore the 1840s Grade II listed Gauxholme viaduct here in Todmorden. It is so important to renovate such structures – these form part of our history.
“Here in Todmorden we are blessed with some amazing buildings and structures, the past forms part our future. I cannot wait to see the completed renovation works and see Gauxholme viaduct back to its former glory.”
During the works, a temporary footpath closure will be in place beneath Gauxholme viaduct with a small diversionary route in place for pedestrians. A pontoon will also be set up on the canal to allow workers to access the structure.
At Taylor’s bridge, access for residents via Rose Bank Road will be maintained during the project.
Network Rail is set to undertake repairs to two bridges in Grantham that carry the East Coast main line over roads in the town, Barrowby Road and Springfield Road.
Both bridges will have strengthening work carried out to make sure road and rail remain safe and reliable for many years to come. The £2.7million project will be carried out on one bridge at a time to reduce the amount of disruption to people and businesses in Grantham.
Barrowby Road bridge will be worked on first, and the road will be closed from 06:00 on Tuesday, 1 September until Friday, 4 December. The work involves Network Rail engineers carrying out repairs to the steel and brickwork, re-waterproofing the bridges and re-painting sections of them.
Railway bridge at Barrowby Road.
Paul Rutter, Route Director for Network Rail’s East Coast route, said: “This work to strengthen the two railway bridges is vital for the railway and the community of Grantham that the line runs through.
“We have planned the work carefully to phase it so that we keep disruption to a minimum for people in the town. One of the roads will be open throughout all of this project, except for one weekend in November. We’re also making sure that both roads are open around Christmas.
“We would like to thank people in advance for their patience whilst the work is carried out and apologise for any inconvenience.”
Once Barrowby Road reopens on Friday, 4 December, both roads will remain open over Christmas until work begins on the bridge at Springfield Road in January. Springfield Road will then remain closed until the project is completed in March 2021.
Both roads need to close for one weekend, on Saturday, 28 and Sunday, 29 November 2020, as work takes place to improve the drainage on both bridges. This part of the project will also impact on train services, as the line will be closed to allow the work to take place safely. Passengers are advised to check their journeys in advance via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator.
Four stations in the West Midlands will be receiving extended platforms in preparation for the introduction of new, longer Class 196 trains in 2021.
Dyer & Butler has been awarded a contract to deliver platform extensions, and associated works, at four railway stations on behalf of West Midland Trains. The design and build programme is already underway and will provide increased pedestrian capacity at Albrighton, Bilbrook, Hartlebury and Oakengates.
The programme of work will include the extension of both platforms at each station to accommodate the new four-car trains, as well as refurbishment of existing platforms to integrate with the new-build. Activities will include surveys, platform gauging, removal of existing ramps, enabling work, new installation, resurfacing, line marking, drainage, realignment of copers, installation of platform furniture and fencing, utilities containment, lighting and PA systems.
To extend the platforms, Dyer & Butler will be using the Network Rail-approved MegaTech EPS modular expanded polystyrene platform system blocks, which have a design lifespan of 100 years. Once on site, this system has been proven to be four times quicker than traditional build, with other benefits such as reduced risk to the workforce and sustainability due to reduced waste.
The work will be carried out during normal Rules of the Route (ROTR) short possessions at night, so will not disrupt train services, and is scheduled for completion in February 2021.
Dyer & Butler regional manager, Paul Fennessy, commented: “We are delighted to have secured this programme of platform upgrade and refurbishment activity. The investment in this increased capacity will provide increased space and comfort for passengers using these stations, whilst the use of the EPS blocks will ensure that on-site possession works and disruption for West Midland Trains’ passengers is kept to a minimum.”
Since the first images of the new HS2 station at Birmingham Curzon Street were released in 2018, so that planning applications could be submitted, detailed design work has been going on.
As a result of that work, carbon emissions have been reduced by an unprecedented 55 per cent – the station will achieve net zero carbon emissions from regulated energy consumption and use a range of technologies to generate energy from renewable sources.
Designers calculated that there are over forty opportunities for carbon reduction, resulting in a reduction in the station’s lifetime emissions by over 87,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent – that’s the same as removing the emissions of over 10,000 houses, or the equivalent of travelling 500 million kilometres in your car.
HS2 – Birmingham Curzon Street Station.
The station will achieve net zero carbon emissions from energy consumed to operate building integrated systems, like heating, cooling and lighting through reducing energy demand and consumption – for example by using LED lighting – and generating low carbon energy through 2,855 square metres of solar panels on the platform canopies and ground source heat pumps.
It will also transform a previously deprived area of land into a new green public realm in the heart of Birmingham city centre to serve future generations.
Hannah Leggatt, HS2’s environment manager for Curzon Street station, said: “Using renewable technologies and lean design, Curzon Street station will be a shining example of how HS2 is helping the UK to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Working with our supply chain, HS2 is pushing the boundaries of innovations in carbon reduction and leading the way in developing the green infrastructure of the future.”
The HS2 Curzon Street team, with WSP as lead consultant, Grimshaws as building architect, and Grants Associates as landscape and public realm lead, have been working for over two years to achieve a striking architectural statement that also minimises impacts on the environment, while creating opportunities for businesses and communities alike.
WSP’s flagship Midlands office is in Birmingham’s iconic Mailbox, where 160 people, including a number of apprentices, have worked together to engineer sustainable, resilient outcomes, putting the new station at the forefront of innovations in green infrastructure.
Tim Danson, WSP’s environment and sustainability lead for Curzon Street station, explained how this landmark project is achieving a sustainable and efficient design: “The sustainability credentials for Curzon Street station are significant, not least the pathway we have developed to achieve an unprecedented 55% carbon emissions reduction over the 120-year lifecycle (for a scheme of this scale and nature). Addressing carbon in the built environment is an important way in which the UK will transition to a net zero society by 2050, and we’re pleased this station will be net zero in operation.
“HS2 and the delivery team have set the bar very high when it comes to sustainability. Responding to HS2’s socio-environmental ambitions, our multi-discipline team was responsible for weaving a thread of future-ready sustainability throughout the design. Over 40 delivery partners have been involved in the design, collaborating to develop the scheme across technological, carbon, climate, biodiversity, community and materials themes”.
The design has recently been validated through the BREEAM Excellent rating, which is an industry recognised standard for buildings that reduce energy usage and materials waste, and minimise impact on the natural environment.
Birmingham Curzon Street visual, January 2020
It has also been shortlisted as a finalist in the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) awards which recognise projects that are helping to transform the world in the sustainability field.
Innovations include rainwater harvesting, the use of photovoltaics and incorporating recycled or renewable materials. There are also opportunities to use low carbon energy, reduce embedded carbon in construction materials, and reduce carbon emissions from construction work.
The station will form an integral part of major new transport changes for the city as a whole, incorporating the Midland Metro running alongside and underneath the station, new pedestrian routes and access to new local bus and train services.
TramForward, the campaign arm of the Light Rail Transit Association, has welcomed the news that the West Midlands Combined Authority has obtained government funding for two Very Light Rail projects.
These two are included in the eight ‘shovel ready’ projects in the West Midlands which will benefit from £66 million from the government’s Getting Building Fund, aimed at projects which can be started quickly and completed within 18 months, creating jobs and driving investment to aid economic recovery following the Coronavirus lockdown.
The list was confirmed on Tuesday 4 August by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, during a visit to the site of the planned National Brownfield Land Institute at the University of Wolverhampton.
The two VLR schemes are: the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley (£12.4 million), where new modes of transport which are both green and cheaper and quicker to deliver than traditional tram or rail are being developed; and Coventry’s Very Light Rail project (£1.8 million).
Jim Harkins, chair of the Light Rail Transit Association’s Campaigns Group, said: “We welcome this support for these innovative schemes which have the potential to revolutionise public transport provision in our smaller and medium-sized towns and cities.”
