Construction News understands the engineering giant is in final discussions with the LFM joint venture to lead its design team for civils and enabling works packages.

WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff was previously in contention to win the 10-year £300m contract to become HS2’s engineering partner for phase one of the route.

However, its bid alongside Ramboll was unsuccessful, with a CH2M / Atkins / Sener joint venture clinching the contract.

It is understood the LFM consortium had been in discussions with both Atkins and WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff ahead of HS2’s engineering partner announcement last week.

According to a source, an agreement had been struck that would see the unsuccessful bidder for the engineering partner position assume the role as LFM’s design partner.

LFM was this week shortlisted for three of the seven main civils packages for phase one of the £50bn high-speed line.

The packages included £1.5bn Wood Green tunnel to Delta Junction and the £1.3bn Chiltern tunnels to Colne Valley viaduct section of the route.

Other shortlisted consortia included Carillion / Kier / Eiffage, Bouygues / Volker / Sir Robert McAlpine, Dragados / Hochtief / Galliford Try and Costain / Skanska / Strabag.

Ferrovial / Bam Nuttall / Morgan Sindall, Acciona / Sisk / Lagan Construction Group and a sole bid from Bechtel complete the shortlist for the packages worth a total of £11.8bn.

Last month Construction News revealed the design partners for six of the seven teams bidding for the £900m enabling works.

The list included other design heavyweights such as Aecom, Arup and Mott MacDonald, as well as European outfits Ineco and Ingérop.

All parties declined to comment.