A key milestone has been reached in the construction of High Speed 2 (HS2), with bidding open for the large contract to construct the backbone of HS2 operations, Network Integrated Control Centre and Maintenance Depot at Washwood Heath in Birmingham.
The site was formerly home to the disused Metro-Cammell railway works and was recently cleared.
The new HS2 hub will feature:
- Network Integrated Control Centre – with state of the art signalling along with office space for crew and staff
- Rolling Stock Maintenance Building (40,000m2 in floor space)
- Carriage Wash
- Automatic Vehicle Inspection Building
- 14 sidings to store trains overnight
Phase one and 2a will have a fleet of 54 trains based at the depot. The 200 metre long trains will serve destinations beyond HS2 such as Liverpool, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow. The trains can be doubled to create 400 metre long trains if needed.
The contract is expected to be awarded in 2023 after a shortlist of bidders for the single-stage design and build contract this summer.
HS2 Ltd's Commercial Director, David Poole, said: “The start of the search for a contractor to build Washwood Heath is a real milestone for the HS2 project and a huge long-term opportunity for the area. With main works civils construction now well underway, we are putting the specialist team in place to support operation of the new railway. Washwood Heath will be at the heart of the operation – and around 500 high skilled jobs based at the depot will be a major boost for the community.”
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Just one question, who is going to use these trains. We have now transformed into a work from home society.
Yes
That’s good news for jobs in the HS2 project and for the West Midlands. What about manufacturing new trains for HS2. With Hitachi, Siemens, Bombardier (which have been taken over by Alstom), Stadler, Talgo and other train manufacturing companies who are in the bidding process of building new high speed trains for HS2.
Whoever wins the contract to manufacture new high speed trains for HS2. With Phase 1 due to be completed in 2027/28 and Phase 2 in the 2030s.