Britain’s most extensive construction project, HS2, is proving to be a catalyst for the growth of small businesses. Recent data reveals that HS2’s civil contractors doubled their spending with SMEs (companies with 250 or fewer employees) in the financial year 2022/23 compared to the previous year. Small and medium-sized businesses,
A new study by Juniper Research, the foremost experts in technology markets, forecasts substantial growth of 182% in the number of smart parking spaces within cities; from 5.8 million in 2024. Smart parking utilises a combination of sensors and real-time data to provide road users with information on closest available
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is close to reaching the halfway mark of its ambitious aim to take on 590 apprentices across the rail upgrade between Manchester and York, via Leeds and Huddersfield. The number of apprentices on the multi-billion-pound programme has reached 264, primarily recruited from locations along the
Contractors working for HS2 have removed a 4,000 tonne bridge over the M42 to make way for the construction of the new high speed line across the motorway near the Interchange Station construction site in Solihull. A team of 20 demolition experts from Solihull-based firm Armac, working on behalf of
Network Rail engineers will be carrying out an extensive programme of engineering work at Keadby sliding bridge, near Scunthorpe, which will result in changes to train services through the area. Teams will be working for nine days from Saturday 17 to early morning on Monday 26 February to strengthen one
Dubbed ‘Google Maps for heavy industry’ Tended’s advanced Geofencing technology is currently used across the rail industry by leading organisations such as Network Rail, Siemens, Morgan Sindall and Amey to improve safety. Tended successfully closed out the £1.5 million EIS round with Wealth Club with participation from existing investor Blackfinch
Octavius Infrastructure has signed with Norfolk County Council to build the long-awaited £47M Long Stratton Bypass. The Long Stratton Bypass is a proposed 3.9km single-carriageway highway scheme which will allow drivers to reach the A140 without having to pass through the village. The job includes construction of three new roundabouts,
Yesterday HS2 marked the start of construction on the landmark Birmingham Curzon Street Station – a new rail hub that will play a vital role in the long-term economic future of the West Midlands. Birmingham Curzon Street Station, which will be net zero carbon in operation, will be the first
Yesterday HS2 celebrated the breakthrough of a tunnelling machine into its underground Old Oak Common station – marking a key milestone in plans to eventually carry the high-speed line into central London. The tunnel boring machine (TBM) named Lydia finished its near-kilometre long journey into the station box in a
hyperTunnel has been successful in winning UK government funding for standout railway innovations at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE). hyperTunnel’s underpass is one of 16 schemes that will be demonstrated at GCRE’s Dulais Valley site in South Wales in 2024. The underpass will demonstrate hyperTunnel’s swarm construction technique,
Britain’s most extensive construction project, HS2, is proving to be a catalyst for the growth of small businesses. Recent data reveals that HS2’s civil contractors doubled their spending with SMEs (companies with 250 or fewer employees) in the financial year 2022/23 compared to the previous year. Small and medium-sized businesses, constituting over 70% of HS2’s supply chain, collectively received a substantial £942 million—a significant increase from the £456 million spent in the preceding year. This injection of funds provided a welcome uplift for construction companies nationwide grappling with challenges tied to rising inflation and supply chain disruptions from the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. The magnitude and pace of HS2’s construction in that year reached its zenith, with the project hitting peak construction and the workforce reaching a record-breaking 30,000. Robin Lapish, HS2’s Supply Chain Lead, expressed, “From the outset, we set ambitious targets to ensure that UK-based SMEs would benefit from HS2’s extensive construction programme. Our contractors, through their procurement processes, embraced the challenge, resulting in just under a billion pounds flowing into small businesses across the country in a single year of our civil engineering programme.” “2024 promises to be another year of opportunity, with a procurement pipeline worth over £1 billion set to be released by our construction partners, along with the award of our railway systems contracts totalling £5 billion. We want to see more local businesses stepping forward and benefiting.” In the financial year 2022/23, HS2’s seven construction partners (stations and civils) achieved an impressive combined average of 20% total spending with SMEs. Align JV and EKFB JV, responsible for delivering the central sections of the HS2 route, surpassed the average, with respective total spends of 33% and 26%. EKFB JV’s commitment to supplier diversity was acknowledged by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply in 2020 when it received the ‘Best Initiative to Build a Diverse Supply Base’ award. Chris Read, Supply Chain Management Lead at EKFB JV, attributes the team’s early focus on achieving supplier diversity to its continued success. Chris added, “We developed a detailed action plan as soon as we secured our civils contract with HS2 Ltd, setting out a procurement approach that would ensure both SMEs and local businesses benefitted.” “Today, 70% of our supply chain consists of SMEs, and in the last year, 20% of EKFB’s contracts were awarded locally. Making a difference to local communities and British businesses is just one of the legacy benefits of HS2, and we’re proud to be a key contributor.” Haulage specialist Vaughan Plant Haulage LTD, among the many SMEs benefiting from repeat contracts, has experienced substantial growth since joining forces with Align JV on HS2. The Denham-based firm has seen increased exposure and business opportunities, leading to the recruitment of more staff from the local area. John Vaughan, Managing Director at Vaughan Plant Haulage LTD, stated, “Since beginning work on HS2, Vaughan Plant Haulage LTD has benefited from the spotlight HS2 has shone on our business, leading to more exposure in our industry and therefore further work.” “Naturally, the upturn in work has meant we have been able to employ more skilled staff, most of which are local to the project. Working with HS2 has proved to be very beneficial to our business and many other local businesses now presented with new opportunities that were not there before.” All subcontract opportunities with HS2’s stations and civils construction partners are posted on CompeteFor approximately two weeks before the procurement process begins. Interested suppliers can view and download the subcontract procurement pipeline on the HS2 website. Companies of all sizes can express an interest in winning work with HS2 and its contractors by registering their details on CompeteFor. For information and advice about becoming an HS2 supplier, read HS2’s Supplier Guide or email scc@hs2.org.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new study by Juniper Research, the foremost experts in technology markets, forecasts substantial growth of 182% in the number of smart parking spaces within cities; from 5.8 million in 2024. Smart parking utilises a combination of sensors and real-time data to provide road users with information on closest available parking spaces and prices, through either signage, apps or dashboards. This helps reduce congestion and emissions produced by vehicles searching for suitable parking spaces. Find out more: Global Smart Traffic Management Market 2023-2028, or download a free sample. Dynamic Pricing Vital in Reducing City Congestion The report urges city municipalities to seriously consider investing in and implementing smart parking initiatives within highly congested cities. The advantages surrounding dynamic pricing in smart parking can not only be used to strategically increase revenue, but also have the ability to ease ongoing congestion issues. This is achieved by lowering prices in less congested parking areas; making them more attractive to drivers. Research Author Cara Malone commented: “With more data than ever available and the low latency that 5G provides, parking solutions have become highly responsive. In cities where on-street parking is a major issue, dynamic signage can be deployed to utilise available parking more efficiently at quieter times; significantly reducing congestion.” Data Analytics to Optimise Transit Routes Juniper Research recommends smart parking vendors offer data analytics services to municipalities and governments as a priority. This data is critical to analysing parking and occupancy patterns, which can be used to optimise transit routes and development; helping shift citizens to public transport and providing significant value for cities. About the Research Suite The new market research suite offers the most comprehensive assessment of the smart traffic management market to date; providing analysis and forecasts of over 31,900 datapoints across 60 markets over five years. It includes a ‘Competitor Leaderboard’ and examination of current and future market opportunities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is close to reaching the halfway mark of its ambitious aim to take on 590 apprentices across the rail upgrade between Manchester and York, via Leeds and Huddersfield. The number of apprentices on the multi-billion-pound programme has reached 264, primarily recruited from locations along the route and amounting to £14.3 million in value to society, according to the Rail Social Value Tool. Apprentices on TRU identify the cost of living crisis, tuition fee debt, career prospects and enhanced hands-on learning as reasons for choosing apprenticeships. TRU, which recently secured a further £3.9 bn of governmental funding, marks the milestone during National Apprenticeship Week, taking place 5-12 February. TRU is creating tens of thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly, including 8,000 new and safeguarded roles, with 60% of the construction workforce employed from within 25 miles of the route and 80% within 40 miles. TRU is also set to deliver a minimum 50p value to society for every £1 spent on construction, generating £4.28 billion of social value, as outlined in the TRU Sustainability Strategy ‘Our Guiding Compass’ which was published last Summer. Apprentices are working in various disciplines across TRU, including Civil Engineering, Project Management, Quantity Surveying and Ecology. Many TRU apprentices have university degrees built into their apprenticeships, taking one or two days a week off work to study. Ellis Mills, TRU Project Management Apprentice based in Manchester said: “One of the reasons I chose an apprenticeship was to pay my parents a bit of rent. We’re a family of five and it’s quite hard. There are people my age who at 18, 19, 20 want to support their parents while times are tough.” “I have developed my communication and leadership skills and learned the art of dealing with challenging behaviours during my apprenticeship with TRU.” “But the part I have enjoyed the most is the networking; speaking with people from across such a large project every day has allowed me to learn so much.” Bethany Draper, TRU Commercial Apprentice based in Leeds and York said: “I was accepted into two Russell Group universities but If I were to have gone to university, I would have been in a lot of debt.” “Financial independence is a key part of choosing an apprenticeship. With expanded work experience in an office or site environment, you have a better start to your career than other students.” Christopher Walker, TRU Commercial Apprentice based in Manchester said: “Someone I know went to a good university and got a first-class honours degree in architecture, but couldn’t get a job due to a lack of experience. I didn’t want that to happen, I wanted to work in what I’ve chosen to do. That was the main deciding factor in choosing an apprenticeship for me.” “There’s a miscomprehension that you get paid very little to be someone’s printing assistant, getting told what to do. But the truth is that companies like TRU put time and effort into developing you as an apprentice.” Neil Holm, TRU Managing Director said: “Providing opportunities through apprenticeships is at the heart of the TRU story. A railway fit for the North of England is being built by the communities through which TRU travels. “Our nearly 590 apprentices are key to the TRU programme and reaching the halfway point of our ambitious apprenticeship intake underlines our commitment to developing skills and employment prospects for TRU communities.”TRU apprentices of various disciplines are available to interview across broadcast, digital and print media. Please contact alec.herron@networkrail.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractors working for HS2 have removed a 4,000 tonne bridge over the M42 to make way for the construction of the new high speed line across the motorway near the Interchange Station construction site in Solihull. A team of 20 demolition experts from Solihull-based firm Armac, working on behalf of HS2’s main works contractor in the Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), carried out the demolition in a 52 hour operation. The operation was coordinated in conjunction with National Highways, who were able to open the motorway section between Junctions 6 and 7 on Monday at 1.30am, which was three and a half hours earlier than planned, reducing disruption to road users. The M42 was closed in both directions late Friday evening, 9 February, and the workforce worked throughout the night to prepare the area for the demolition activities. Starting at 7am on Saturday 10 February, the demolition team used a 100 tonne excavator and a further seven 50 tonne demolition excavators to complete the operation, supplemented by numerous breaker and cruncher attachments. Six articulated dumper trucks transported the excavated material to a local stockpile where it will be crushed and reused on HS2’s haul roads and work sites. Once the bridge was demolished at around 3pm on Saturday , the debris was removed, the matting taken away, carriageway cleaned, and central reservation and verge restraint systems reinstated, ready for the motorway to be re-opened at 1.30am on Monday 12 February. It is the second of two 4,000 tonne bridges in close proximity over the M42 which needed to be demolished so HS2 can build a new twin box structure, which will carry the high speed line over the motorway in the future. The operation by Armac to demolish the first bridge took place in August last year. The original plan was to demolish the second bridge next year. However, due to two drivers on the motorway below recently striking the bridge, National Highways asked HS2 to demolish the bridge sooner because it had become unsafe. Alan Payne, Senior Project Manager at HS2 Ltd said: “This operation, delivered by local specialist firm Armac, is another step forward in the construction of HS2 in the Midlands. I’d like to thank the whole team for delivering the bridge demolition ahead of schedule, reducing disruption to roads users.” Oliver Shore, Construction Director at Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “The safe and successful demolition of this 4,000-tonne bridge is another huge achievement for Balfour Beatty VINCI. This was a complex operation, made even more challenging because of the limited time we had to plan and deliver this critical work. I’m really proud of how the team responded, showcasing their skill and experience in these demanding circumstances. “It’s the second bridge removal we’ve delivered along the same stretch of motorway in just six months. Like the previous demolition last summer, every effort was made to minimise the impact on road users through careful planning and close collaboration between HS2 and National Highways.” Noel McLean, Technical Director of Armac said: “We were delighted to work with our partners HS2 and BBV again, for the demolition of the M42 North Bridge. Our primary aim is always to complete the project safely and in a controlled operation. Thankfully, the project was completed well ahead of schedule. Another successful project from the Armac ‘Bridge Busters’ and all of the BBV team.” Frank Bird, National Highways Senior Network Planner said: “We are delighted to have been able to reopen the motorway for the benefit of road users some three and a half hours earlier than planned and thank people for their ongoing patience since the bridge was hit last month. “This has been a challenging task as normally a demolition such as this would be planned over many months. Instead, everyone involved was able to mobilise resources to get it down in a matter of weeks. It has been a terrific collaborative effort with HS2 Ltd and all others involved and one I am sure road users will appreciate with all lanes now open.” This year, the BBV team will start to construct the huge twin box structure, which will carry HS2 trains over the M42. Enabling works commence in March and piling is due to commence in August. This new structure, measuring 300 metres length by 25 metres width will cover around 130 metres of the M42 and will be built in position whilst maintaining three lanes of traffic flowing on the M42. This section of HS2 railway lies between Interchange Station in Solihull and the Delta Junction, a triangular section of the line which enables trains to either travel into Birmingham’s Curzon Street Station or carry on north where trains will join the West Coast Main Line to Manchester. HS2 has already built a new, improved road structure and roundabout in this area, to improve the circulation of traffic around the HS2 railway line and connect the existing road network to the new Interchange Station. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Rail engineers will be carrying out an extensive programme of engineering work at Keadby sliding bridge, near Scunthorpe, which will result in changes to train services through the area. Teams will be working for nine days from Saturday 17 to early morning on Monday 26 February to strengthen one of the walls of the Stainforth & Keadby canal which needs repair. During the work, new rails and other fresh track equipment will also be installed on the railway bridge. Engineers will be draining part of the canal before knocking down part of its north wall and installing a new, prefabricated concrete slab onto the wall, stabilising it and allowing train services to run over the bridge for years to come. The nine-day programme of work will result in passengers experiencing smoother and more reliable journeys as they travel by train. The original Keadby sliding bridge dates to the late 1800s and is the only bridge of its kind in the UK. The railway it carries is one of the busiest routes for freight services on Britain’s rail network and connects passengers between Doncaster and the Lincolnshire coast. Due to the improvements, there will be changes to passenger services between Doncaster and Scunthorpe. Rail replacement services will operate on all days between Doncaster and Scunthorpe. For TransPennine Express passengers, replacement bus services will operate each day between Doncaster and Scunthorpe non-stop in both directions. Train services will continue to run between Liverpool Lime Street and Doncaster and also Scunthorpe to Cleethorpes. Northern will operate a Monday to Saturday replacement coach service that will call at Kirk Sandall, Hatfield & Stainforth, Thorne South, Crowle, Althorpe, and Scunthorpe. Passengers are encouraged to check their journeys before travelling via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator. Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail’s North & East route, said: “This extensive programme of upgrades to Keadby sliding bridge and the canal wall will be beneficial for our passengers as they experience smoother, more reliable journeys as they travel by train between Doncaster and Scunthorpe. “This is a large-scale piece of work, but we have deliberately planned to carry it out in a longer period so that our engineers can work to deliver all the vital maintenance and upgrades at once, rather than causing multiple periods of disruption. However, we know that this work will be disruptive to passengers, and we are sorry for any inconvenience caused. “We would encourage all passengers to check how their journey may be affected ahead of travelling via National Rail Enquiries or their train operator. I also want to thank passengers for their patience and understanding throughout this period.” Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern, said: “We welcome this investment in the region’s rail infrastructure and the benefits the works will bring to our passengers travelling between South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. Whilst there will be short term inconvenience, this is about long-term improvements to the network and we ask for customers’ patience and understanding during the period of disruption.” Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Service and Operations Director at TransPennine Express, said: “We want to thank our customers for their patience as Network Rail carries out an extensive programme of upgrades to Keadby sliding bridge which will provide long-term improvements to the network. “We are advising customers to check before they travel at www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates or National Rail Enquiries.” At the same time, engineers will be working to carry out comprehensive repairs to the platform structure along with a like for like renewal of the existing footbridge at Althorpe station. A temporary footbridge will be installed while work is carried out to construct the new station footbridge, maintaining connections for passengers to platform 2. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Dubbed ‘Google Maps for heavy industry’ Tended’s advanced Geofencing technology is currently used across the rail industry by leading organisations such as Network Rail, Siemens, Morgan Sindall and Amey to improve safety. Tended successfully closed out the £1.5 million EIS round with Wealth Club with participation from existing investor Blackfinch Ventures. In the UK, Network Rail is responsible for maintaining more than 20,000 miles of track – but despite a strong focus on trackside safety, accidents do happen causing significant financial cost and even cost lives. Network Rail has committed a specific allocation of its £44 billion, 5-year budget to improve safety, and has identified geofencing as a key technology for meeting the tightening regulations. With Tended’s solution, which uses Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and real time kinematics (RTK) to provide location to within 1cm, managers can set ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ locations on an easy-to-use dashboard. Meanwhile, high-precision wearables pinpoint where workers and other physical assets are located, and can alert users if they are unsafe. Tended’s commitment to workplace safety was internationally recognised when its product was featured in Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2023 list. This recognition illustrates the type of impactful technological solutions Blackfinch Ventures and Wealth Club aims to support through its investments. In January, Siemens Mobility announced that it would be rolling out Tended’s technology across the UK following a successful six-month pilot and small-scale deployments in the South West, where the teams were impressed by its suitability for the varied and complex projects*. Following on from its success in the rail sector, Tended is also targeting other heavy industries including Highways and Utilities. Tended is now working in partnership with the European Space Agency on the next generation of its product. Gayle Bowen, Head of Direct company investments at Wealth Club said: “Tended has achieved a great deal since launching its Geofencing product in March 2023. Not only has it secured contracts and pilots with key industry players like Siemens Mobility but it has also secured major R&D funding to complete the next iteration of its technology. We expect the Department for Transport’s anticipated changes to safety standards to be an important catalyst in this market which could further underpin Tended’s growth plans. Tended is a great example of high impact UK innovation as part of a commercially compelling EIS investment.” Leo Scott Smith, CEO of Tended said: I’m delighted to welcome Wealth Club as a shareholder at this really exciting time in our growth trajectory. We’re already starting to see the profound impact we’re having on safety and efficiency in the rail industry through the implementation of our geofencing technology. With Wealth Club on board, I’m excited to increase this impact and together, work towards our mission of putting an end to preventable fatalities in heavy industries. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Octavius Infrastructure has signed with Norfolk County Council to build the long-awaited £47M Long Stratton Bypass. The Long Stratton Bypass is a proposed 3.9km single-carriageway highway scheme which will allow drivers to reach the A140 without having to pass through the village. The job includes construction of three new roundabouts, two new junctions and two overbridges. Plans for the village bypass in Norfolk were first discussed 70 years ago and have had a number of false starts since. In September last year, the long-awaited bypass was finally granted full planning permission by South Norfolk Council. Norfolk County Council secured £26.2M from the Department for Transport (DfT) for the project in summer 2021, but in September 2022 the scheme saw its projected costs rise to £46.2M from the original £37.4M. This 23.5% rise in cost was mainly due to the pandemic and the Ukraine war driving up material and labour prices across the globe. The full business case for the new road has now been submitted to government which estimates the overall cost of delivering the route at £46.9m. Following initial preparation works which will be taking place over the coming months, the target date for the main construction work to start on the bypass is Spring 2024 with the road planned to be open to traffic before the end of 2025 after an 18-month construction period. The project will now be mainly funded with a minimum of 70% from the DfT’s Major Road Network Fund and up to 30% from local contributions made up primarily of developer contributions and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions. The Greater Norwich Growth Board have also agreed arrangements with South Norfolk Council for the forward funding of a £4.5M developer contribution, which is in addition to the £10M CIL supported contribution it has already pledged. Long Stratton residents have campaigned and lobbied government for a bypass for decades as they hope it will cut congestion through the village. As well as the bypass, plans for 1,800 new homes and a new primary school for the area were recently approved by South Norfolk Council. Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport Graham Plant said: “This is another welcome milestone we’ve reached in this vital infrastructure project. The 3.9km road will not only solve the transport issues caused by the bottleneck on the A140 – which is a major local route – but also open-up improvements for cycling and walking in and around the town. “Once in place the scheme will cut congestion, unlock economic growth, and improve journey times across the county.” Octavius Infrastructure managing director for highways Gavin Pritchard, said: “We are delighted to be working with Norfolk County Council on such a key project, bringing significant benefits to the Long Stratton community and the wider transport network. “Our carbon reduction measures, the protection and enhancement of the local environment, and the significant sourcing of local suppliers in this region reflects our strong commitment to our sustainability and social value goals for this project.” Norfolk County Council councillor for Long Stratton Alison Thomas said, “This is great news as seeing this project continue to push forward is very welcome – not only for those who live and work in Long Stratton but also for the thousands of people who use the route and experience first-hand the daily delays and frustrations brought by the current situation.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Yesterday HS2 marked the start of construction on the landmark Birmingham Curzon Street Station – a new rail hub that will play a vital role in the long-term economic future of the West Midlands. Birmingham Curzon Street Station, which will be net zero carbon in operation, will be the first brand new intercity terminus station built in Britain since the 19th Century. HS2’s contractor Mace Dragados Joint Venture (MDJV) have been in Stage One of the contract since 2021, working with HS2 Ltd to develop the detailed programme. Starting this January, they will deliver major earthworks to prepare the site for piling and foundations work in the Spring, with construction of the main station building due to start in the Summer. During construction itself, hundreds of jobs will be created, including an estimated 100 new entrant roles, new apprenticeship positions and Restart scheme opportunities for unemployed people. Rail Minister Huw Merriman said: “Curzon Street will become one of the most environmentally friendly stations in the world, and the gateway to Birmingham for future HS2 passengers. The start of construction represents significant progress for the UK’s largest infrastructure project, demonstrating real momentum in building the line that will transform rail travel for generations to come. “Birmingham is a hive of HS2 construction, with the project already supporting thousands of jobs and apprenticeships in and around the city. This next step at Curzon Steet Station will open up hundreds more opportunities for people across the region, providing a real boost to the economy.” Sir Jon Thompson, Executive Chair of HS2 Ltd said: “This is a major milestone for HS2 in the West Midlands, as work begins on this brand new iconic structure in the city. The connectivity created by Birmingham Curzon Street Station and its public realm will create far-reaching social and economic opportunities across Birmingham’s Eastside by linking together the learning and creative quarters, new residential developments and the city centre. “As work ramps up over the coming months, many jobs, apprenticeships and supply chain opportunities will be on offer – building on the economic benefits already making an impact in the region as a result of HS2.” Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Commencing construction on Curzon Street Station is a landmark moment for HS2, for our region and for the entire country. Building Curzon Street will create hundreds of jobs for local people and upgrade our rail infrastructure for the 21st Century. “This brand new station is a clear example of the tangible benefits HS2 can deliver in the months and years ahead.” Liz Clements, Cabinet Member for Transport, Birmingham City Council said: “This is a landmark moment for Birmingham as the construction of Curzon Street Station begins. The construction of the station will see the creation of hundreds of new jobs and provide an important boost for our city’s economy. “Curzon Street Station will be at the heart of our transformed city centre, with world class public realm linking the station with our metro and bus networks. “The arrival of high speed trains to Curzon Street will be a huge moment in our city’s history, and the construction of the station brings that moment ever-closer.” Jason Millett, Mace Dragados JV Board Director, said: “HS2 Curzon Street Station presents an unparalleled opportunity to generate positive change for Birmingham and the West Midlands. Aside from the benefits of improved rail travel for millions of people across the region, the station will drive urban regeneration, connect communities, create long-term employment, and proudly stand as a hive of activity in the heart of a booming city centre. “The benefits don’t begin with the completed station, though. Building on the excellent foundations laid by the early works and main works civils contractors, we are determined to enhance HS2’s legacy by identifying and implementing opportunities to drive sustainability and achieve social value at every step of the way. “We’re looking forward to bringing industry-leading ideas, innovations and expertise from across our international construction and consultancy teams to deliver this landmark station for the West Midlands.” Work on the station façade will begin in Summer 2025, with construction of concourse steelwork and the roof due to start in Autumn 2025. The internal fit-out of the station will start towards the end of 2025 and finish at the end of 2028. Operational testing and commissioning will run from Summer 2026 to Autumn 2028. The station will deliver excellent connectivity to Eastside and Digbeth to enable wider regeneration in the area. There will be seamless connections to the local transport network including buses and the Midland Metro with a tram line running alongside and under the station, connecting the city with Digbeth. HS2 worked with WSP and Grimshaw Architects LLP on the design for Curzon Street, which is inspired by the great arched roofs built by the Victorian railway pioneers. The design takes that inspiration into the 21st Century, ensuring accessibility and a focus on the open space and landscaping around it. Once complete, HS2 will almost halve the journey time between London Euston and Birmingham to just 49 minutes, with trains running north via the existing rail network to destinations such as Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. Trains will approach Birmingham through a series of structures being delivered by HS2’s main works contractor for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV). This includes the 3.5 mile Bromford Tunnel and a series of five connected viaducts from Washwood Heath, and over the existing Victorian railway line, Lawley Middleway and Digbeth Canal. The final approach to the station – Curzon Viaduct No.3, also being delivered by BBV, widens from a single deck to four separate decks, spanning 65 metres at the wideset point, to carry seven tracks to the platforms Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Yesterday HS2 celebrated the breakthrough of a tunnelling machine into its underground Old Oak Common station – marking a key milestone in plans to eventually carry the high-speed line into central London. The tunnel boring machine (TBM) named Lydia finished its near-kilometre long journey into the station box in a move that completes the construction of the Atlas Road Logistics Tunnel. The 853m long tunnel, which runs from the Atlas Road logistics hub, is being built to service the programme to construct the line eastwards towards Euston. It will eventually allow materials required for the Euston Tunnel to be transported to the site without clogging up local roads or disrupting work going on elsewhere at Old Oak Common station HS2’s London tunnels contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV) constructed the logistics tunnel using a TBM made from components repurposed from a machine previously used to construct London’s Elizabeth Line. The TBM is named Lydia, a name selected by the local community, after Lydia Gandaa – a former teacher at Old Oak Common Primary School. The TBM broke through into the eastern end of the Old Oak Common underground station box, which is currently under construction by a separate joint venture – Balfour Beatty Vinci SYSTRA (BBVS JV). Later this year, SCS JV will lower two additional TBMs into the box and assemble them ready to bring the HS2 line into Euston. Once they are in place BBVS JV will seal the box and continue to construct HS2’s super-hub station. Speaking about the milestone, Malcolm Codling, Project Client Director for HS2 Ltd said: “The completion of the Atlas Road Logistics Tunnel takes us closer along our journey to bring HS2 into central London at Euston. The logistics tunnel is a key part of our plans to enable us to construct the Euston Tunnel and will reduce the construction impact on the local community.” Over the past nine months, TBM Lydia has removed 62,000 tonnes of London Clay, all of which is sent by rail for beneficial reuse across the UK and has installed 535 concrete rings. The segments for the tunnel rings were manufactured by Pacadar UK in Kent. A team of 100 has been working around the clock to complete the tunnel, working in shifts to operate the TBM and the above ground operations. The experienced SCS JV team have also used their expertise to develop more team members at the early stages of their careers, including apprentices and graduates for whom this was their first time constructing a bored tunnel. The logistics tunnel will be used to deliver materials to the two Euston Tunnel TBMs, including over 56,000 concrete tunnel segments manufactured by STRABAG in Hartlepool, and take away the London Clay excavated. Bringing in materials by road and removing the excavated spoil for the Euston Tunnel would have been logistically challenging and would have had significant impact local roads and on the work to construct the station. The logistics tunnel was the optimum solution to enable HS2 to reach Euston. Once the Euston Tunnel is complete and the railway is operational, the logistics tunnel will be backfilled. James Richardson, Managing Director of Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture, said: “The completion of the Atlas Road logistics tunnel paves the way for us to deliver our London tunnels programme to Euston. The tunnel supports our continued commitment to reducing cost and carbon by removing one million lorry journeys off London’s roads.” Following the government’s Network North announcement in October, alternative funding arrangements for the delivery of Euston station are being considered. However, work is continuing with the preparations and design of the railway between Old Oak Common and Euston. HS2 is making significant progress on the construction of the tunnels for the new railway. The Chiltern Tunnel TBMs are due to complete their work by spring, and this will be the second twin bored tunnel that has completed by HS2, alongside the Long Itchington Tunnel. Further north, HS2 is working to complete the Bromford Tunnel. In London, two further TBMs are about to launch, part of the quartet of TBMs boring the Northolt Tunnel. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
hyperTunnel has been successful in winning UK government funding for standout railway innovations at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE). hyperTunnel’s underpass is one of 16 schemes that will be demonstrated at GCRE’s Dulais Valley site in South Wales in 2024. The underpass will demonstrate hyperTunnel’s swarm construction technique, which uses AI, digital surveying and swarm robotics to effectively 3D print a structure in the ground before any excavation takes place. The result is designed to be an underground construction project that is faster and less expensive to deliver, and which carries less risk, less disruption, less waste and a lower carbon footprint than current cut-and-cover construction techniques. The project aims to provide an economically viable alternative to hazardous level crossings, while improving safety, increasing rail capacity and avoiding inconvenience to road and rail users. hyperTunnel will build a 20-metre-long pedestrian-sized tunnel under a GCRE’s test track, designed to allow the track above to remain open throughout the construction process. “We are delighted that the GCRE sees the same potential in the hyperTunnel method as our partners in the construction industry,” said hyperTunnel co-founder Steve Jordan. “Having spent many hundreds of hours developing our robot fleet in the lab in Basingstoke, the system is now ripe for being proven on a real site, in accelerated test conditions, and which can be visited by interested parties. The GCRE facility is going to be a huge opportunity for us and we can’t wait to get started and to present a feasible technological solution to the longstanding level-crossing issue.” Currently under construction in South Wales, The Global Centre of Rail Excellence is a world class facility for rail research, testing and certification of rolling stock, infrastructure and cutting-edge new technologies currently being developed in South Wales. Located on a 700-hectare site, GCRE will become Europe’s premier site for rail and mobility innovation. It aims to undertake world-class research, testing and certification of innovative new rail technologies, acting as an incubator for pioneering projects. This project is funded by the Department for Business and Trade through the competition ‘GCRE: Railway Construction Innovation Phase 2’ delivered by InnovateUK in collaboration with GCRE. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
