HS2

MPs misled over ‘enormously wrong’ land costs for HS2, reveals whistleblower

17.12.18: A whistleblowing former executive at HS2 has revealed that the land cost estimate given to MPs before they approved the high-speed rail project was “enormously wrong.” The whistle-blower declared that the decision to approve HS2...

HS1 and Crossrail suppliers admit to running ‘illegal cartel’ for 7 years

14.12.18: Two UK rail suppliers to major projects such as HS1 and Crossrail have admitted to operating an illegal cartel for almost seven years with the goal of increasing prices and reducing competition in the drainage market. The Competition and Ma...

Ex-Atkins chair made HS2 boss as Sir Terry Morgan resigns from two roles

06.12.18: Sir Terry Morgan has resigned as chairman of both HS2 and Crossrail, days after he revealed that he expected to be sacked this week. The government has announced that former Atkins chair Allan Cook will replace Morgan as the new chair of HS...

Spanish infrastructure group looking to sell Amey

05.12.18: Spanish construction giant Ferrovial is looking to sell its UK subsidiary Amey. Ferrovial is putting its global support services division, which includes the Oxford-based Amey, up on the market. Investment bank Goldman Sachs has been appoin...

Overhaul of Tees Valley’s two biggest stations gets £45m boost, but DfT help still needed

04.12.18: Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) has approved a £45m investment to “dramatically overhaul” Darlington and Middlesbrough stations as part of improvements which mayor Ben Houchen told RTM would be “central” to th...

Sir Terry Morgan ‘expects to be sacked’ as HS2 chairman over Crossrail delays

03.12.18: Sir Terry Morgan has said he expects to be sacked as chairman of HS2 in the next few days after taking up the role only four months ago. Speaking on the early evening news programme on BBC Radio 4, Morgan said there was disappointment at We...

Bombardier and Hitachi commit to high-speed rail learning programme if HS2 bid is successful

30.11.18: Hitachi and Bombardier are to work closely together in developing a high-speed rail learning programme as part of their joint bid to build trains for HS2. The companies, meeting in Doncaster, say they’re discussing the development of...

HS2 work on injunction site halted by overnight protesters

29.11.18: Four environmental protestors managed to stop work on part of the HS2 rail link at a construction site, which was protected by an injunction ordered by Chris Grayling, chaining themselves to part of the site. The group locked themselves ove...

HS2 train race: making the case

20.11.18: Bombardier and Hitachi’s commitment to providing the best HS2 rolling stock pitch to the government was signified with the launch of their new bid centre in Birmingham in September. With other transport giants Alstom, CAF, Talgo and Siemen...

HS2 kicks off bid race to build Birmingham’s Curzon Street station

19.11.18: HS2 has announced the start of its search for contractors to build its new £435m Curzon Street station. Around four contractors will be shortlisted for the design and build deal ahead of the arrival of HS2 in Birmingham in 2026. ...

A transport network ‘on its knees’ is slowly catching up in the north, says Grayling

16.11.18: Chris Grayling has said that rail in the north is playing catch-up from “decades of economic neglect” and that whilst improvements in May did not work the way it should have, he will deliver “the transport system the north dese...

Building new city-centre lines instead of using existing network inflates HS2 cost by 15%

15.11.18: HS2’s second phase will cost more compared to similar overseas schemes because it relies on new dedicated high-speed lines into city-centre terminal stations at Manchester and Leeds rather than using the existing conventional railway. ...

HS2 Phase 2 could be almost 30% cheaper, Armitt’s PwC review finds

15.11.18: Costs for HS2’s Phase 2 could be 27% lower if the company succeeds in implementing a series of opportunities to make the project more efficient compared to its European counterparts, a long-awaited report has revealed. The findings co...

Arcadis lands £7m Old Oak Common HS2 station systems design deal

13.11.18: Arcadis Consulting has been awarded a £7m contract to design the rail systems at the new Old Oak Common HS2 station. The contract encompasses the design services for the railway systems in and around the proposed station and integrate...

Cheshire council launches action plan for enhanced HS2 Crewe hub station

12.11.18: Cheshire East Council has launched an action plan to create an enhanced HS2 hub station in Crewe in order to maximise its potential benefits and engage with local businesses. The development framework includes growth and regeneration opport...