HS2 has named the teams that will deliver the high-speed rail project's state-of-the-art track, signaling, communications and other systems.
The “Rail Systems” contracts are signed after the statutory standstill period of 10 days has expired. It marks the start of a new phase of the project, which will see almost 140 miles of tunnels, bridges and earthworks between London and the West Midlands transformed into an operational railway.
Over the coming years, the successful companies will initially design and then install approximately 280 miles of track, allowing speeds of up to 225 miles per hour (360 km/h), as well as the power supplies and signaling necessary for the railway's safe operation.
A vast network of fiber optic cables will form the railway's central nervous system, providing signaling and communications functions for staff and passengers. If strung together, these cables would stretch more than 1,200 miles.
The contracts, which are collectively worth around £3 billion, are expected to support tens of thousands of jobs across the UK.
The main rail systems contractors will be brought together in a collaborative Rail Systems Alliance structure, aimed at managing the interfaces between them and resolving any conflicts in the program. All members will collaborate on design, access, resources and logistics to achieve common cost and schedule goals.
The first design phase of the work will take place in parallel with the completion of civil engineering, which is currently at its peak, with rail system contractors ready to move onto site as soon as civil engineering is complete.
Contracts will be signed with the following organizations after the statutory standstill period has expired.
Track systems, lots 1, 2 and 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 act as the main contractor for traceability-related work and are responsible for logistics and approval coordination.
The work covers the stretch from Old Oak Common to the Birmingham Curzon Street terminus. It includes the design and construction of the infrastructure maintenance depot at Calvert, the interface to the Washwood Heath Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot and the permanent connection to the existing rail network at Handsacre Junction.
Switches and crossings as well as prefabricated slab tracks that form the HS2 track system will be delivered under existing contracts with Voestalpine and PORR UK – with the Track Systems contractor coordinating planning, logistics and installation. Rail delivery is via Network Rail.
Catenary systems (OCS)
Colas Rail will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the Overhead Catenary Systems (OCS).
They will use the state-of-the-art V360 OCS design range under license from SNCF Reseau to deliver the next stages of design for HS2 Ltd. to develop. This system was the first in Europe to be certified for speeds of up to 360 km/h and will power the state-of-the-art high-speed trains.
Operational telecommunications and security systems
Siemens will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, safety approval, testing, commissioning and initial maintenance of the state-of-the-art operational telecommunications systems and linewide safety systems. Excess fiber network capacity could also be sold to third parties to improve broadband access to more remote 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, delivery, installation, safety approval, testing, commissioning and initial maintenance of the systems that provide mobile communications to customers as well as the station's emergency services and data network.
Command, Control, Signaling and Traffic Management (CCS&TM)
Instead of traditional colored lights, HS2 will use a digital Command, Control & Signaling (CCS) and Traffic Management (TM) system, supporting faster and more frequent services.
Siemens is responsible for the design, manufacture, delivery, installation, monitoring, inspection, safety approval, testing, commissioning and maintenance of the CCS and TM systems until handover to trial operation, as well as for ongoing technical support of the CCS and TM systems .
Technical management system
The digital engineering management system will enable remote monitoring of railway assets and systems by key operations and maintenance staff, enabling the UK to operate some of the most reliable, safe and efficient high-speed rail services in the world.
Siemens will be responsible for the design, manufacture, delivery, installation, integration, testing, commissioning and maintenance of an integrated SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) solution deployed across the network – providing 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 Center 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 Center will be awarded next year.
Photo credit: HS2