High Speed Rail Group welcomes the publication of the National Infrastructure Commission’s Rail Needs Assessment for the Midlands and the North. The programme of rail investment in the Midlands and North as outlined by the National Infrastructure Commission is much needed and essential if we are to deliver on the Read more…
In its bid to cut carbon and focus on improving local air quality, HS2 is trialing new ultra-clean generator technology developed by a collaboration of three UK technology companies. OakTec Power Ltd has collaborated with generator manufacturer Sutton Power Engineering and site welfare specialist Advanté to develop the low emission, Read more…
Recognising the need for action, in June 2019 the UK Government committed to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2050. This is hugely important, but now we need to ensure that this ambition is realised – with organisations playing a huge role in the efforts to successfully Read more…
The UK 2070 Commission has produced a report that calls on the government to Go Big, Go Local. The report highlights how only a balanced growth plan, a New Deal for Levelling Up is likely to deliver greater prosperity without having damaging environmental and social consequences. Greengauge 21 produced the UK’s 2070 Transport Infrastructure Read more…
High Speed Rail Group has submitted a proposal to this year’s Comprehensive Spending Review calling for Government to fund a Deliverability Study to explore the options and proposals to connect Scotland to HS2. This would reduce journey times from London to Scotland to close to three hours, decarbonise the journey, Read more…
Our latest report calls on the Government to commit to decarbonising Britain’s railways by 2040 by making a “transformative investment” in a national high speed rail network. Responding to the Department for Transport’s consultation: Decarbonising Transport: Setting the Challenge outlines how as a new, zero carbon transport spine for Britain, HS2 Read more…
Our latest online panel event was arranged jointly with HS2 Ltd to coincide with International Women in Engineering Day – and is part of our ongoing work to increase the representation of women in the sector. The panel was made up of senior women from our membership and female apprentices Read more…
Sustainability and resilience have never been more important in transport infrastructure than now. The ambition for a megaproject such as HS2 has always been to build the most sustainable railway of its type in the world. Representing companies with relevant experience and an interest in high speed rail, the High Speed Rail Group is acutely aware of the challenges to industry that the government’s net zero carbon target brings. As part of its commitment to managing carbon footprint, HS2 has also set ambitious targets for its supply chain to minimise the whole life carbon emissions of its assets including buildings. For stations this includes achieving net zero carbon in operation for regulated emissions and achieving a 50 per cent reduction in whole life carbon emissions against a baseline for a typical station.
Arup has produced a design for HS2’s new Interchange station, to be built near Solihull and the NEC in the West Midlands. The station will be one of the best-connected places in the UK, with customers (more…)
Delivering and future-proofing HS2’s low carbon legacy is complex, but that doesn’t mean the supply chain shouldn’t grab the opportunity, says AECOM’s director of sustainable development Robert Spencer. When the world’s inter-city first steam rail line opened in 1830, running between Liverpool and Manchester, it was welcomed by huge Read more…
Although the Coronavirus crisis has been dominating the headlines, environmental challenges have not gone away. The warm weather that is lifting spirits is also leading scientists to predict that 2020 will be the hottest year on record. Indeed, after the lockdown had already started, the DfT launched a radical consultation to inform its Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP). Calling for less car use and making public transport the first choice for daily travel, it represents a huge change from decades of previous policy.
It is important for HS2 now to rise to this opportunity. In her most recent report, Sadie Morgan, the chair of HS2’s independent design panel, called for more evidence and communication on how net zero is driving HS2 Ltd’s decision-making, calling for action from board level to those working on site. Professor Morgan also sits on the National Infrastructure Commission, which is undertaking a Rail Needs Assessment for the Midlands and the North. Clearly making the carbon case will be important for securing approval for Phase 2b and beyond.
The big challenge here is (more…)