HS2 Ltd has announced the shortlist of nine bidders in the race to win one of seven civil engineering contracts that will contribute to the high speed line’s construction, with contracts valued between £7.1bn and £11.8bn.
Transport minister Robert Goodwill said the project would create thousands of jobs and apprenticeships during the construction phase and would help to "rebalance our economy long before trains start running in 2026".
Contracts for Phase One engineering works have been split into seven packages. Shortlisted bidders will be invited to tender for a maximum of four packages but, in order to maintain competitiveness, will only be awarded a maximum of two packages.
The seven packages are:
- Lot S1: Euston Tunnels and approaches (£600m-£900m), for which CEK JV, Fusion, Momentum Infrastructure and SCS are bidding
- Lot S2: Northolt Tunnels (£850m - £1.4bn), for which Align JV, CEK JV, Fusion and SCS are bidding
- Lot C1: Chiltern Tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct (£800m - £1.3bn), for which Align JV, BBV, LFM and SCS are bidding
- Lot C2: North Portal Chiltern Tunnels to Brackley (£800m - £1.3bn), for which Align JV, BBV, CEK JV and Momentum Infrastructure are bidding
- Lot C3: Brackley to Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel South Portal (£600m - £900m), for which Align JV, ASL, Catalyst, CEK JV and Momentum Infrastructure are bidding
- Lot N1: Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel to Delta Junction/Birmingham Spur (£900m-£1.5bn), for which BBV, Fusion, LFM and SCS are bidding
- Lot N2: Delta Junction to West Coast Main Line Tie-in (£800m - £1.3bn), for which BBV, Fusion, LFM and Momentum Infrastructure are bidding
The civil engineering contracts are expected to be signed in 2017 with work on the site started the following year.
The shortlisted companies are:
- Align JV: BouyguesTravaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, Volkerfitzpatrick
- ASL: Acciona Infraestructuras, John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd, Lagan Construction Group Ltd
- Balfour Beatty Vinci BeMO (BBV JV): Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Vinci Construction UK Ltd, Vinci Construction Terrassement SAS, BeMO Tunnelling GmbH
- Catalyst: Bechtel Ltd
- Carillion-Eiffage-Kier (CEK) JV: Carillion Construction Ltd, Eiffage Genie Civil S.A. (previously Eiffage TP), Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Ltd
- Fusion: Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure Ltd (previously Morgan Sindall plc), BAM Nuttall Ltd, Ferrovial Agroman (UK) Ltd
- LFM: Laing O’Rourke Construction Ltd, FCC Construccion S.A., J. Murphy and Sons Ltd
- Momentum Infrastructure: Dragados S.A., HOCHTIEF Infrastructure GmbH, GallifordTry Infrastructure Ltd
- SCS: Skanska Construction (UK) Ltd, Costain Ltd, STRABAG AG
HS2’s chief executive, Simon Kirby, said: “Today’s announcements are a major milestone for the project.
“Over the next 10 years HS2 will help create tens of thousands of job opportunities, build specialist skills and expertise across the country and create at least 2,000 new apprenticeships.
“Collaboration will be at the heart of everything we do. Together with our suppliers, we will create these opportunities while continuing to push for the best value and long term efficiency that will be essential to delivering this transformational project on time and on budget.”
The announcement comes just days after HS2 names its engineering delivery partner for Phase One: a joint venture between Atkins, CH2M and Sener.
Click here to see the JVs that have been awarded the £900 Enabling Works Contracts in November 2016.
