We welcome the Opportunity through Connectivity report commissioned by the Mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, which acknowledges that a line between Birmingham and Manchester is essential to deliver capacity and economic benefits across the North and Midlands. It is critical that HS2 Phase 1 is properly connected Read more…
A specialist cantilever process has been used for the first time in the UK to build the first span of a 472-metre-long single track viaduct in the West Midlands. The River Tame West Viaducts carry three rail tracks in total, made up of one single track viaduct and one double-track viaduct. Read more…
We spoke to Jack Rhodes, an Advanced Apprentice with Alstom. Can you describe your role in a few words? I am an apprentice involved in the manufacture of trains on the production line. My role is to move around the different areas of the production process, learning a range of Read more…
The National Audit Office (NAO) report makes clear the plan the incoming Labour government is inheriting – a truncated HS2, and a West Coast Main Line operating at capacity – is not going to help grow the national economy, nor is it going to allow train performance on the West Read more…
We recently held our third annual High Speed Rail Group Apprenticeship Conference, this year hosted by BBVS JV at HS2’s Old Oak Common. The event provided a great opportunity for our apprentices to share their experiences from across the rail industry and make connections with senior industry leaders. Key highlights Read more…
Our latest report states that a comprehensive long-term strategy to develop the UK’s inter urban rail network is essential for future economic growth and achieving net zero. The report urges political figures on all sides to look beyond HS2 and take a fresh approach in order to maximise the vast Read more…
Economic analysis of the areas close to HS2’s three hubs in the West Midlands – Curzon Street Station in central Birmingham, Interchange Station in Solihull, and the Washwood Heath Depot and Network Integrated Control Centre – shows dramatic increases in regeneration and investment in the last six years. Since Royal Read more…
The second giant boring machine (TBM) building HS2 under the Chiltern Hills has now broken through at the tunnel’s northern portal, completing a journey that began in June 2021. Named Cecilia, the TBM has driven for 10 miles underground to join twin sister machine – Florence. She arrived at the Read more…
HS2 designers and engineers working on five key viaducts have cut their carbon footprint by up to two thirds (66%) by adopting an innovative ‘double composite’ structure which uses significantly less concrete and steel than a more traditional design. HS2 engineers at Westbury on the Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire border have already begun Read more…
The first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), launched almost 3 years ago, broke through under the Chilterns recently, having excavated the longest tunnel on HS2 at 16km. TBM Florence is one of 10 machines excavating the 32 miles of tunnel on the new railway linking London Euston with Birmingham and was Read more…