We spoke to Ben Duncumb, a Demolition Apprentice working for Keltbray: Can you describe your role in a few words? I am learning new methods for demolition, including how things are done correctly and to high industry standards. What were you doing prior to this? Prior to my apprenticeship I Read more…
Work has now begun to excavate the first of five shafts that will provide ventilation and emergency access to HS2’s ten-mile long tunnels under the Chiltern Hills. The structure was designed by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV, made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick Read more…
HS2 and its industry partners have achieved certification by the Energy Saving Trust for the second stage of a retrofit innovation trial, meaning the green technology can now be rolled out to larger Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) and bring substantial benefits for the whole industry. The solution, manufactured by British Read more…
More landscape designs have been revealed by HS2 that show how an area around the River Cole in Warwickshire could be transformed for local people to enjoy. The Design Joint Venture working for Balfour Beatty VINCI JV (BBV) on these proposals consists of global consultancies Mott MacDonald and Systra together Read more…
HS2 Ltd began the search for small innovative firms and start-ups to become part of the third cohort to join its Innovation Accelerator programme. In partnership with Connected Places Catapult and Bruntwood SciTech, HS2 Ltd is looking for five SMEs to develop new thinking, technology and processes in how data Read more…
HS2 Ltd has launched the 2,000 tonne tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘Florence’ from it’s South Portal site next to the M25 in Hertfordshire, the first of 10 giant tunnelling machines that will dig 64 miles of tunnels between London and the West Midlands. Named after nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale – Read more…
The latest in our ‘In Conversation With…’ virtual event series focused on the skills and jobs that will be created over the lifetime of the HS2 project. Toby Perkins MP, Shadow Apprentices and Life-Long Learning Minister, and Neil Robertson, Chief Executive of the National Skills Academy for Rail were joined Read more…
We spoke to Selina Hearne, an Apprentice Communications Engineer working for Telent in Birmingham. Can you describe your role in a few words? I work on the upgrade, development, installation and maintenance of various forms of communication, information, infrastructure and safety systems within the rail industry. What were you doing Read more…
Align joint venture, HS2’s construction partner for the Chilterns Tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct, has taken an innovative step to reduce the use of single use plastic on its construction sites. Align analysed their purchasing data, which showed that they were using over 100,000 pairs of disposable blue plastic overshoes Read more…
The first of 112,000 walls segments for the Chiltern tunnel were produced at a purpose-built production line at the project’s tunnelling HQ close to the M25 in preparation for the launch of HS2’s first giant tunnelling machines. The project’s first two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) – named Florence and Cecilia Read more…