We spoke to Heather Fisher, a Digital Apprentice with SYSTRA Ltd Can you describe your role in a few words? My role sits within the rivers and environmental team as a digital apprentice, working on design and BIM content. BIM, or Building Information Modelling, is a process for creating and Read more…
The HS2 project has celebrated the start of the next phase of tunnelling, launching the first of six tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will dig over 26 miles of tunnels under the capital. HS2 Ltd’s CEO, Mark Thurston was joined by local teacher, Sushila Hirani, after whom one of the Read more…
HS2 is celebrating the very first tunnelling breakthrough on its one-mile dig under Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire. The 2,000-tonne 125m long Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named ‘Dorothy’ – after Dorothy Hodgkin, who in 1964 became the first British woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, started its journey at the tunnel’s North Portal in December 2021, broke through the wall of the reception box at the South Portal site on Friday 22 July 2022. Nearly 400 people working for HS2’s main works civils contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV JV) have delivered this important milestone on the HS2 project.
The first design images have been revealed of Washwood Heath Depot, HS2’s maintenance facility and main control centre for the whole HS2 network, which will create over 550 jobs in the local area. The site, north east of Birmingham city centre, is where HS2 trains will be maintained, serviced and Read more…
Our Annual Conference at Birmingham’s Think Tank Science Museum focused on the theme of ‘Delivering Europe’s biggest infrastructure project’. The day highlighted the importance of HS2 as a transformative project at both national and regional levels, one that is essential to achieving the Government’s goals of levelling up and achieving Read more…
HS2’s designers have reduced the length of wall structures for the railway at Streethay from 1.6 kilometres to 420 metres, meaning 80% less concrete will be needed, supporting HS2’s ambition to cut carbon on the project. The railway will pass through Streethay in a cutting, and the shortening of the Read more…
Balfour Beatty VINCI Joint Venture (BBV) is currently trialling the world’s first all-electric, high-capacity drilling rig on a construction site in Warwickshire, as the Joint Venture steps up its plans to meet HS2 Ltd’s ambition for diesel-free construction sites. The 100 tonne BAUER eBG33 drilling rig creates an overall reduction Read more…
We spoke to Gemma Watts, a Junior Project Controller working for Atkins Can you describe your role in a few words? I am responsible for the timely issue of schedule information, communication of critical programme deliverables and maintenance of programme information within set timescales. What were you doing prior to Read more…
We spoke to Alexandra Lakin, a Junior Project Controller working for Atkins Can you describe your role in a few words? I create, maintain and update transportation projects, reporting on the critical path and effect on time, cost and quality constraints relating to these projects. I am also responsible for Read more…
We spoke to Thando Makombe, Apprentice Materials Technician working for Balfour Beatty Vinci Can you describe your role in a few words? My role involves the testing of materials, from soils aggregates to concrete to see if they meet the required standard for the project. What were you doing prior Read more…