HS2

New centre in Birmingham as part of Bombardier and Hitachi’s HS2 bid launch

A brand-new HS2 bid centre will be based at the Millennium Point in Birmingham as part of Hitachi and Bombardier’s joint venture for the £2.75bn rolling stock contract, which was officially launched today.

In a public announcement, bid director for the joint venture Matthew Cross said both Bombardier and Hitachi “set the global benchmark” for high-speed rail in the UK, and argued Birmingham is the “obvious choice” for the partnership’s bid centre.

A team of as many as 50 experts from both companies – including engineers, designers, and environmental specialists – has been assembled to work up the proposals to best support the government’s strategic HS2 goals.

The final bid will be submitted from the new Birmingham centre to HS2 by February 2019, and the £2.75bn contract to design and build 54 trains is due to be awarded in March 2020.

Speaking to delegates today, Cross explained: “I am extremely proud to be leading such a significant bid for these two firms—not just because it’s such an exciting rail project, but because of the difference we can make in Britain, and particularly the Midlands. The joint venture is a perfect fit for this project.

“In this building we will produce a world-class, best-of-British bid. Bombardier and Hitachi are the two best railway systems companies in the world. They have phenomenal, and very long heritage of designing and building brilliant trains. They have led the way in so many countries, and particularly in the UK—Bombardier’s heritage goes back to 1850 where rail production in Derby started for the very first time.”

Based at Millennium Point in Birmingham, the bid team will overlook the site of the planned Curzon Street HS2 station.

Karen Boswell, managing director and group chief administration officer at Hitachi Rail Europe, told crowds that the main objective is around rail capacity, balancing regional growth, balancing the economy, and being part of something “that is so iconic and groundbreaking into the future, a once-in-a-generation opportunity.”

“It’s all about people as well,” she added. “The opportunity to develop and support people growing great careers in the rail industry in all aspects, be it engineers, be it design, be it operations – and this, for me and Bombardier, makes me super excited for this project that we’re embarking on.”

Boswell noted the need to make the HS2 fleet a “British icon” for the country. “It’s all about being famous for building a British icon for the UK—seeing a British-built design train at high-speed in this country has got to be an ambition that everybody is excited about,” she continued.

Managing director of Bombardier Robert Davies said: “What you’ll see as the bid develops is that together we have a very strong offering—both in terms of the product and technology, but when you look at our footprint in the UK, we have access to a very strong pool of technical people and manufacturing facilities.

“That is something you won’t find from our competitors. So we think we can make a very strong offer for HS2, and also for the regional benefits for the UK.”

Also present was Birmingham City Council cabinet member for transport, Cllr Waseem Zaffar, who argued HS2 will “transform” Birmingham: “This city is already home to HS2 home office at Two Snow Hill which will eventually employ up to 1,300 people.

“That’s why I am delighted that both Bombardier and Hitachi have chosen Birmingham to base their bid centre. Whilst it would be wrong for me to favour one bid over another, I welcome their commitment to Britain’s best city and HS2.”