Utilities & Infrastructure : Rail & Transport News
Midlands Rail Hub: Project will deliver 20 million extra seats

Midlands Rail Hub: Project will deliver 20 million extra seats

The Midlands Rail Hub project would deliver 20 million extra seats a year for businesses, residents and commuters. The Midlands Rail Hub proposes building two ‘chords’ and over 10 further engineering interventions throughout the region to deliver a massive step change in rail transport in the Midlands. This will see

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RAIB Report: Track worker near miss at Chiltern Green

RAIB Report: Track worker near miss at Chiltern Green

RAIB recently released its report into a track worker near miss at Chiltern Green, between Harpenden and Luton, 23 April 2024. Summary At about 09:53 on 23 April 2024, a train travelling at 104 mph (167 km/h) came very close to striking a track worker who was crossing an underbridge

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HS2 contractor celebrates 500th apprentice milestone

HS2 contractor celebrates 500th apprentice milestone

HS2’s construction partner for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), has welcomed its 500th apprentice, Kordell Carty. The 26-year-old Aston resident started his early career on house-building sites and supporting loft and garage conversion projects. Now, Kordell is helping to deliver Britain’s new high-speed railway as an apprentice formworker.

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McPhillips lands £10m contract to build major transport hub

McPhillips lands £10m contract to build major transport hub

McPhillips has been awarded a £10 million contract by Hereford Council to construct the city’s new Transport Hub. The project is part of a broader strategy to improve travel and connectivity across the city, encouraging a shift away from car dependency and supporting more sustainable transport options. The new Hub

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Latest Issue
Issue 328 : May 2025

Utilities & Infrastructure : Rail & Transport News

Midlands Rail Hub: Project will deliver 20 million extra seats

Midlands Rail Hub: Project will deliver 20 million extra seats

The Midlands Rail Hub project would deliver 20 million extra seats a year for businesses, residents and commuters. The Midlands Rail Hub proposes building two ‘chords’ and over 10 further engineering interventions throughout the region to deliver a massive step change in rail transport in the Midlands. This will see up to 300 extra trains traveling into or out of Birmingham every single day and will help create a ‘turn up and go’ service on the busy Cross City line. Birmingham Moor Street will see 14.2 million extra seats and Birmingham New Street will gain an extra 5.4 million seats. The Cross City line will see two extra trains, in each direction, per hour, which will create 5.4 million new seats each year. Redditch, Alvechurch and Barnt Green will see one extra train, in each direction, per hour and 2.7 million new seats for passengers, whilst Bromsgrove will see 4.7 million new seats. Lichfield will gain 5.4 million seats. Nottingham, Hereford, Coleshill Parkway, Worcester, Hinckley, South Wigston, Droitwich Spa and Worcestershire Parkway will see at least 2 million new seats. Derby will see 4.1 million new seats. Andy Clark, Head of Rail at Midlands Connect, said: “The benefits of the Midlands Rail Hub will be felt by millions of people across the Midlands and beyond. “Being able to run faster, more frequent services and deliver 20 million extra seats is the definition of a win-win project. The Midlands Rail Hub is our flagship project at Midlands Connect, and we are working to deliver massive benefits to all corners of the Midlands.” The Midlands Rail Hub project is co-sponsored by Midlands Connect, the Department for Transport and West Midlands Rail Executive. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Plans submitted for new Tyldesley ‘travel hub’ to boost park and ride capacity and encourage more people to use public transport

Plans submitted for new Tyldesley ‘travel hub’ to boost park and ride capacity and encourage more people to use public transport

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has submitted a planning application for a new Travel Hub in Tyldesley to help more people access the Bee Network and boost the numbers of people using public transport by providing improved park and ride facilities. The proposed new Travel Hub will create 99 additional parking spaces – including electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and accessible spaces – and will be built on Astley Street, south of the Leigh Guided Busway to meet increased demand for spaces at the existing park and ride nearby. Improved pedestrian access to the guided busway will also be provided as part of the plans alongside new street lighting and CCTV to help people feel safer when using the site at all times of day.  The existing Astley Street Park and Ride – which provides 46 spaces and three disabled bays – will also be given a new designated pick up and drop off area, two extra accessible car parking spaces, covered cycle parking, delivery lockers, and a new office for staff working on the Guided Busway. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Park and Rides play a vital role within the Bee Network by encouraging more people to use our integrated public transport system, while also reducing congestion on our roads and improving air quality. “The success of the Leigh Guided Busway, including the trial of night buses, has seen demand for parking increase at Tyldesley Park and Ride. This expansion will improve access to bus services and provide the capacity needed to encourage more people to travel more sustainably. We listened to a strong call from the community on this, they asked and we have responded.” In total 148 car parking spaces would be provided at the proposed Travel Hub, including accessible bays and EV charging parking spaces. Following planning approval, work is expected to start on site in early 2026 and complete by the summer. Jo Platt, MP for Leigh and Atherton, said: “It’s fantastic to see things progress to the next stage with the Tyldesley Park and Ride and the Travel Hub. “With more than three times the current parking capacity, this new provision will improve access to public transport and help to alleviate the existing parking pressures in Tyldesley town centre. “Better connectivity is key to reducing congestion on our roads, supporting local growth and encouraging more people to use public transport. I look forward to seeing work begin in early 2026.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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RAIB Report: Track worker near miss at Chiltern Green

RAIB Report: Track worker near miss at Chiltern Green

RAIB recently released its report into a track worker near miss at Chiltern Green, between Harpenden and Luton, 23 April 2024. Summary At about 09:53 on 23 April 2024, a train travelling at 104 mph (167 km/h) came very close to striking a track worker who was crossing an underbridge at Chiltern Green, between Harpenden and Luton Airport Parkway stations. The track worker was just stepping off the bridge, from an area where there was very limited space between the bridge parapet and train, when the train passed them. Upon seeing the track worker on the bridge, the driver sounded the train’s horn and then made an emergency brake application. Once the train stopped, the driver reported the incident to the signaller, unsure as to whether the train had struck the track worker. At the time of the incident, the track worker, who was a tester carrying out telecommunications cable testing, was walking to rejoin their group after a welfare break. RAIB found that the tester walked over the bridge because they were unaware of any other way to walk back to the rest of the group and because the person in charge had not arranged for the tester to safely leave and rejoin the group when taking a break. The person in charge had previously taken the tester over the bridge using an informal and potentially unsafe system of work, using a route to the site of work which was not the one the project engineer planning the work had intended the group to use. This happened because the staff involved were unfamiliar with one of the locations, the person in charge had a very limited role when the work was planned and had not been briefed beforehand, and the documents issued to the person in charge did not give a clear description of the way the team was expected to walk to the site of work. RAIB found that the tester had crossed the bridge without an effective safe system of work in place despite being aware of the risks in doing so. However, the tester’s personal track safety competency, and the associated rules for walking alone on or near the line, did not prohibit them from crossing a structure with restricted clearance. RAIB also identified that the bridge was not signed as a limited clearance structure, which was a possible factor. An underlying factor was that the overall methodology followed for planning the work did not provide the person in charge with clear information about how to carry out the walking element of the work. A possible underlying factor was that, although Network Rail had recorded the bridge as having restricted clearance, it and many other structures on the railway between London and Bedford were not fitted with the required signage to warn staff of this hazard. RAIB also observed that: Since the incident, changes to the rules were published to prohibit personal track safety competency holders from crossing a bridge with restricted clearance unless an appropriate safe system of work is in place. Recommendations As a result of the investigation, RAIB has made four recommendations. The first is for Keltbray Infrastructure Services Limited to review and amend how it plans work on or near the line, so its staff can better understand how to manage and carry out the work they need to deliver. The second is for the Rail Safety and Standards Board to follow the relevant rail industry processes to review and amend as necessary the rail industry standard requirements for warning signage at structures with restricted clearance. The third is for Network Rail to record its lineside signage assets, determine what inspection and maintenance regime is required for these assets, and then schedule these activities to be done. The fourth, also addressed to Network Rail, is to reduce the risks to railway staff due to warning signage not being fitted to structures with restricted clearance. RAIB has also identified four learning points. The first reminds staff involved in planning or carrying out work on or near the line of the importance of coming to a clear understanding about how the planned activities, including the walking elements, should be executed. The second highlights the importance of providing information that clearly identifies the access points to be used if the planned activity involves staff going to more than one access point and different sites of work. The third highlights the importance of not going into any area where there is reduced space between a structure and the nearest running rail of an open line. The fourth highlights the importance of track workers, who are involved in a near miss incident with a train, understanding how they will safely exit the railway, and seeking assistance from the signaller if required. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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HS2 contractor celebrates 500th apprentice milestone

HS2 contractor celebrates 500th apprentice milestone

HS2’s construction partner for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), has welcomed its 500th apprentice, Kordell Carty. The 26-year-old Aston resident started his early career on house-building sites and supporting loft and garage conversion projects. Now, Kordell is helping to deliver Britain’s new high-speed railway as an apprentice formworker. When work slowed down during and after Covid-19, Kordell began to explore new career opportunities. He learned about the formworking apprenticeship through a friend, who had applied for a steel fixing apprenticeship on HS2, and was keen to work on a large-scale project that would contrast with his house-building experience. Although the profession of formworking – creating the foundation elements used to make temporary and permanent concrete structures – was not an area of work he was familiar with, Kordell was drawn by the fact that he would be working on the prestigious HS2 project. With a level 2 apprenticeship qualification now underway, Kordell is currently based at the site of HS2’s River Blythe bypass bridge, working for Galldris as part of the BBV supply chain. Here, he is part of a 35-strong team building a structure that will allow the high-speed line to pass above a brook and a bypass channel of the River Blythe in Warwickshire. Kordell said: “The highlight of working on HS2 is being able to see first-hand the progress of the project. I’m taking in as much as possible – I’ve never worked on a construction site of this scale, and I was intrigued to see what it would be like!  “My colleagues are great, and I really enjoy working onsite. In the future, I’m looking forward to seeing the finished railway and being able to say that I helped to build it.” As well as learning on the job, Kordell studies at BBV’s Warwickshire-based apprenticeship training hub. The dedicated hub was developed in direct response to a skills gap in the project, and the wider industry, and plays a pivotal role in ensuring workers are accredited and job-ready to support the construction programme. The facility opened its doors in 2023 to deliver steel fixing and formwork apprenticeship training. It has supported over 30 local jobseekers so far. BBV’s 100th apprentice, Benjamin Richards-Moss, who is based at the joint-venture’s Skills Academy in North Warwickshire, has gone on to secure a permanent job on HS2 following completion of his apprenticeship in business administration. Promoted to the role of Training Coordinator, Benjamin plays a key role in the administration function supporting the Skills Academy. He said:  “Working for HS2 is one of the best things anyone can do. My advice would be to talk to people around you, get to know what the project is about and this way you will build a great support network.  “The project is very exciting, and I believe it will transform the local economy and enhance social mobility between Birmingham and London.” HS2 will underpin the construction industry for years to come, bringing thousands of newly skilled people into the workforce. To date, 1,865 apprentices have joined HS2 and its supply chain – putting the project firmly on track to meet a target of generating at least 2,000 apprenticeships over the lifetime of the programme. Julie Venn-Morton, Senior Skills and Inclusion Manager at HS2 said:  “Apprenticeships are crucial in helping us to deliver HS2 and integral to our drive to leave a lasting skills legacy for people in the West Midlands and beyond. “We are very proud to see BBV reach this milestone, which supports our mission to upskill the next generation of construction workers. We wish Kordell a very warm welcome to the project and congratulate Benjamin on successfully securing a permanent role on HS2.” HS2’s construction is now supporting more than 31,000 jobs – including apprenticeships, graduate trainees and through dedicated skills and employment programmes that support unemployed people back into work. Once operational, HS2 will improve connections between London and the West Midlands, with trains running further north on existing lines. The new high-speed railway will create quicker and more reliable journeys, driving economic growth while freeing up space for more local trains on the most congested part of the existing West Coast Main Line. For details about career and employment opportunities available with HS2 and its supply chain partners, visit hs2.org.uk/careers Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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McPhillips lands £10m contract to build major transport hub

McPhillips lands £10m contract to build major transport hub

McPhillips has been awarded a £10 million contract by Hereford Council to construct the city’s new Transport Hub. The project is part of a broader strategy to improve travel and connectivity across the city, encouraging a shift away from car dependency and supporting more sustainable transport options. The new Hub will feature upgraded bus stands and layovers, dedicated taxi and car parking, including both commuter and short-term spaces, as well as enhanced facilities for cyclists, such as covered cycle stands and lockers. Passengers will also benefit from improved indoor welfare amenities. Designed to offer reliable connections between bus, rail, cycling and walking routes, the Hub aims to enhance accessibility and reduce congestion while improving air quality in the area around the station. Andrew Dunham, contracts director at McPhillips, said: “Having worked on significant public realm and transport projects over the years for different local authorities, we know how transformative these spaces can be. “We have a genuine commitment to improving our local communities and the team at McPhillips is looking forward to delivering a hub which will make moving around the city easier and more sustainable for everyone.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Transformational upgrades set for Huddersfield station with 30-day closure confirmed

Transformational upgrades set for Huddersfield station with 30-day closure confirmed

Huddersfield station will be closed from Saturday 30 August until Monday 29 September 2025 to enable major Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) engineering work.  The ongoing upgrade of the Grade I listed station – which began over a year ago – is key to unlocking the benefits of improved rail travel across the North, and this marks the most significant stage of the programme to date.  The work set for the back end of summer includes major track and platform remodelling, which once the wider rail upgrades are complete in Huddersfield, will transform the layout of the station and enable more trains with more seats to run through the area on a greener, more reliable railway.   These upgrades will pave the way for further infrastructure improvements in the near future, with the installation of a new, accessible footbridge and the restoration of the historic Grade II listed tearooms, which were carefully dismantled in 8,000 different pieces last year so they can be repainted and relocated to a new location on the platform.  The restoration of the iconic station roof canopy continues, with the scaffolding and coverings of one section to be removed in the coming weeks. The renovation of one of the country’s remaining few ‘Euston style’ roofs has been meticulously planned with engineers preserving the canopy’s historic features whilst enhancing its durability for future generations.  During this 30-day closure, no trains will run through the station, with diversionary routes and rail replacement buses in operation to keep customers on the move. Following the 30-day closure, only three platforms will be in operation on a temporary basis. Gareth Hope, TRU Sponsor, said:  “Our upgrade of Huddersfield station is one of the most important projects across the entire TRU programme, and this 30-day closure will allow us to take a giant leap towards giving the station a deserved makeover without harming its heritage.  “Ultimately, the work in Huddersfield is key to improving the journeys of millions of people across the North – increasing the number of tracks through the station and remodelling its platforms means we will will be able to run faster, more frequent trains with enhanced capacity in the future.  “We’re pleased with the recent programme milestones in Huddersfield and are excited for these to progress further in the summer.”  Chris Nutton, Major Projects and TRU Director at TransPennine Express, said:  “The 30-day closure is a milestone in the history of Huddersfield railway station that will pave the way for the future benefits of the TRU programme to be unlocked and I’d like to thank everyone who’s working hard in the background to turn this into a major success.  “During the closure, TPE won’t be able to run trains through the station for 30 days, with Brighouse functioning as the gateway to Huddersfield in those weeks. We’ll have more information on how our customers can travel across the Pennines in June, but for now, we encourage you to put these dates in your diaries.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Costain completes construction of 41 M1 emergency areas ahead of schedule

Costain completes construction of 41 M1 emergency areas ahead of schedule

The areas cover three schemes spanning more than 30 miles between Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, and are providing safety benefits for road users. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company working as part of SMP Alliance, has completed the construction of 41 new emergency areas ahead of schedule between junctions 28 and 35A of the M1. The emergency areas are on a 32-mile stretch of the motorway between Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. They are part of National Highways’ National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme, a £390m investment plan which, along with technology like stopped vehicle detection, aims to improve safety on the road network. The emergency areas are stationed at regular intervals along the motorway where there isn’t a permanent hard shoulder, offering a safe place for road users to stop in an emergency. Each area is approximately 100 metres long and is clearly marked in orange tarmac and blue signs with an orange SOS telephone symbol. Costain, as SMP Alliance on-site assembly partner, has now completed the installation of the final 22 emergency areas between junctions 28 and 30, with the spacing between emergency areas reduced by half. The 32-mile stretch of road, which carries more than 200,000 vehicles a day, is now fully open for traffic at the national speed limit and has been completed ahead of schedule, improving regional mobility within Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. Jacky Li, project director at Costain, commented: “It’s a fantastic achievement to have delivered these three schemes, which cover more than 30 miles of one of the UK’s busiest motorways, ahead of schedule. Through a collaborative approach and a like-minded group of delivery and supplier network partners in SMP Alliance, we’ve been able to efficiently and safely deliver all 41 emergency areas for National Highways. “Our work will improve the resilience of the local road network, and the additional emergency areas will increase safety, reduce disruption and improve mobility for road users for many years to come, helping to drive prosperity across Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.” The completion of the work follows Costain completing a ten-mile upgrade of the M6 in the North West in December last year, as well as a new nine mile stretch of dual carriageway on the A30 between Chiverton and Carland Cross in Cornwall. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Designing the Future: Gatwick Assembles Specialist Teams for Major Expansion

Designing the Future: Gatwick Assembles Specialist Teams for Major Expansion

London Gatwick Airport has taken a significant step in advancing its long-term growth plans by appointing 16 expert design firms to a refreshed design services framework, marking the start of a new chapter in its capital investment strategy. The newly established framework is designed to accelerate the delivery of design work across the airport’s upcoming projects by enabling faster engagement of consultants under pre-agreed terms. It spans a broad range of specialisms including architecture, civil and structural engineering, baggage handling systems, and fire safety engineering. Structured across five key lots, the framework includes both large and small multi-disciplinary teams to ensure flexibility and expertise across every scale of project. The selected firms include a mix of global engineering giants and innovative SMEs, reflecting Gatwick’s ambition to blend experience with agility. Firms appointed under the Large Multi-Disciplinary lot include Arcadis, AtkinsRealis, Baker Hicks, Jacobs UK, Ramboll, and WSP UK. The Airfield category sees AtkinsRealis, Jacobs UK, Ramboll and WSP UK return, while the Baggage lot welcomes IDOM, Principal Projx, Typsa, and Vlogix. Supporting innovation and diversity, the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Multi-Disciplinary lot brings together Hulley & Kirkwood, Lyndon Goode Architects, Pascall & Watson, Pellings, Pod Architects, and Webb Yates. Meanwhile, Jacobs UK and WSP UK have also been appointed under the Fire Engineering lot. Alasdair Scobie, Capital Programmes Director at London Gatwick, commented:“This refreshed design framework is a key enabler for delivering London Gatwick’s ambitious capital investment plan, ensuring high quality design incorporating more sustainable solutions delivered through a capable and competitive supply chain. “This is the first step in a broader construction supply chain strategy as we bring in the best designers, consultants and contractors to support the airport’s growth. It’s a crucial time for us, and we’re excited to begin this next phase in partnership with such a strong and diverse team.” The announcement underlines Gatwick’s commitment to sustainability, smart design, and inclusive development as the airport continues to evolve to meet future travel demands and customer expectations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Unique HS2 tunnel portal completed to solve high-speed rail’s ‘sonic boom’ conundrum

Unique HS2 tunnel portal completed to solve high-speed rail’s ‘sonic boom’ conundrum

Contractors building HS2 have completed work on a pair of innovative extensions to the southern portal of its longest tunnel to eliminate the possibility of ‘sonic boom’ being created by high-speed trains entering at 200mph.  The structures, built at the southern end of the railway’s 10-mile Chiltern Tunnel to the north-west of London, are near identical to those now under construction at its northern portal in Buckinghamshire.  All trains entering tunnels anywhere in the world force air forward, creating pulses of energy that roll along the tunnel causing a small release of air pressure into the outside world at the far end. Known scientifically as ‘micro pressure waves’, they are inaudible on conventional railways. But in high-speed rail tunnels, air shoved forward without escape routes can create powerful pressure waves that emerge as an audible ‘thud’ or ‘sonic boom’. In a first for the UK rail network, HS2’s design includes extensions on all eight tunnels where trains enter at speeds above 140mph.  However, the length, physical setting and aesthetic of those at each end of the line’s tunnel beneath the Chiltern Hills mark them out as unique even to HS2. HS2 Ltd chief engineer, Mark Howard explains, “The maximum speed of HS2 varies along the route. But where the train is entering a tunnel travelling above 140mph we are building portal extensions to prevent ‘sonic boom’ occurring.  Although there are several tunnels on the line where train speed will be higher than in the Chiltern Tunnel, no other combines speeds of 200mph with length of 10 miles.  Its these unique physical characteristics that demand unique structures at each end.” First identified in 1974 during train testing on Japan’s then new 187mph ‘Sanyo’ shinkansen line, when people nearby noticed ‘booms’ near tunnel exits, the problem was solved by the invention of perforated portals extending from the tunnel entrance. Later, as train speeds gradually increased and further slight improvements in the control of micro-pressure waves were required, the solution was to radically enhance the train’s aerodynamics rather than retrospectively adding the pressure-dissipating portal extensions to tunnels that had already been built. The famous super-sleek, elongated aerodynamic snouts of Japanese high-speed trains cause the pressure to build up more gradually when the train enters a tunnel.   Building on over 40 years of research by the international rail community, the engineering team from HS2 Ltd, engineering consultancy Arup together with the University of Birmingham and Dundee Tunnel Research, developed and laboratory-tested HS2’s tunnel portal design. To mitigate against ‘sonic boom’ HS2’s tunnel beneath the Chiltern Hills requires bespoke portal extensions. Protruding up to 220 metres – around the length of two full-size football pitches – from a chalky cutting near the M25 motorway, they are each punctuated along one side with ventilation portholes. These enable some air pushed forward by the train to escape, making the pressure increase more gradual so that the micro-pressure wave emitted from the other end of the tunnel is undetectable. The basic design can be adapted to different lengths: the longer the extension, the weaker the micro pressure wave. In order to decide how long each extension needed to be for every HS2 tunnel, the team used micro-pressure wave measurements from Britain’s first high speed line between London and the Channel Tunnel, HS1 as the benchmark. The line’s tunnels do not experience sonic boom because the micro pressure waves are too weak. Therefore HS2’s research team used it as the basis to develop anti-sonic boom porous tunnel extensions for the new London-West Midlands high speed line. Mark added, “HS2 was designed from the ground up as an entirely new and complete rail system. This enabled us to develop all its constituent parts e.g. trains, tunnels, stations, power systems to complement each other and operate as intended. “In the case of avoiding sonic boom at tunnel portals, we used already-established key criteria including train speed, tunnel diameter and length to develop tunnel portal extensions that would prevent sonic boom occurring.” Commenting, Arup Fellow Richard Sturt said, “Arup is proud to have helped create a new international benchmark for the suppression of sonic booms with the HS2 tunnel portals. They are longer than any existing portals anywhere else in the world as we have prioritized seating capacity on the train, avoiding the need for a long nose section on the train like the Japanese shinkansen.  The portals’ unique tapered design combined with the precision-sized holes provide an incredibly smooth build-up of pressure as the train enters the tunnel. As a result, there won’t be any audible noises from micro pressure waves, despite the extremely high train speeds.” Construction of the Chilterns Tunnel, and its portal extensions was led by HS2’s main works contractor Align JV – that includes Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and Volker Fitzpatrick. The group finished building those at the southern end in January 2025, with the northern pair following in the autumn of this year. Once operational passenger trains will travel through HS2’s 10-mile Chiltern Tunnel in three minutes Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Lower Thames Crossing Approved: £9bn Project Set to Transform South East Connectivity

Lower Thames Crossing Approved: £9bn Project Set to Transform South East Connectivity

The UK’s largest road infrastructure project in a generation has been given the green light, as the Secretary of State for Transport grants development consent for the Lower Thames Crossing. The ambitious scheme, connecting Kent, Thurrock, and Essex, is set to ease congestion at the heavily burdened Dartford Crossing. A Game-Changer for UK Roads Spanning 23km, the project includes twin tunnels stretching 4.2km beneath the River Thames, providing a vital new link between the A2/M2 and the M25. Designed to tackle severe congestion at Dartford—the busiest river crossing in the country—the Lower Thames Crossing is expected to improve traffic flow and unlock economic growth across the South East. The estimated cost of the scheme is £9.4bn, with the government exploring private finance options that could push the total to £10.2bn. Already, £1.2bn has been invested, with much of it allocated to the project’s extensive planning and approval process—the largest development consent order (DCO) application ever submitted in the UK. Following its initial submission in October 2022, the project underwent an exhaustive public examination before receiving approval on 20 March 2024. The decision, which had been delayed multiple times, marks a major milestone in one of the UK’s most complex infrastructure projects. Construction could begin as early as 2026, with completion expected in the early 2030s. In the meantime, project teams will work closely with local authorities and stakeholders to refine design elements and minimise community and environmental disruption. A Sustainable Approach to Infrastructure The Lower Thames Crossing is being positioned as a carbon-neutral construction “pathfinder” project. National Highways aims to significantly cut emissions by up to 70% through the use of low-carbon materials and alternative fuels, such as hydrogen. These sustainability efforts are expected to set a benchmark for future large-scale infrastructure developments, with potential applications in sectors like rail and nuclear energy. Beyond its transport benefits, the scheme includes major environmental commitments. Plans include the creation of six times more green space than the road itself, planting one million trees, establishing a community woodland, and developing two new public parks with Thames views. Nearly 5km of new and upgraded pathways will also be introduced for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. Designed with extensive public consultation, several adjustments have been made to mitigate the impact on local communities and ancient woodlands. These include increasing lane capacity to three in each direction and extending the tunnel length. Creating Jobs and Boosting the Economy The project is expected to generate thousands of jobs within the construction sector, with a commitment to recruiting nearly half of the workforce locally. Skills training and employment opportunities will be a key focus, ensuring long-term benefits for communities in the region. To deliver the project, three main works contracts have been awarded: Industry leaders have widely welcomed the approval, calling it a transformative investment in the UK’s infrastructure. Balfour Beatty’s divisional CEO for major projects, highways and ground engineering, Phil Clifton, stated that the project would “unlock capacity, capability, and careers.” Skanska UK’s executive vice president Andrew English added that it would relieve congestion while showcasing innovations in low-carbon construction. Calls for Funding Clarity Despite the approval, there are concerns over the project’s funding. The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has urged the government to make a swift decision on financing to ensure work can begin without further delays. However, not everyone supports the scheme. Green Alliance policy adviser Rosie Allen has criticised the government’s approach, arguing that investing in public transport and freight solutions would be a more effective long-term strategy. Campaign group Transport Action Network has described the decision as “economic madness,” questioning the viability of spending up to £16bn on a single road project at a time of budget constraints. As debates continue, the Lower Thames Crossing remains a landmark infrastructure project with the potential to reshape transport in the South East while setting new standards for sustainability in construction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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