Hs2 Network Rail Agreement

HS2 trains will run seamlessly between HS2 and the existing rail network, halving many journey times across the UK. Each train will have a length of about 200 m, with the possibility of harnessing 2 units in a 400 m long train with up to 1,100 seats. Today`s announcement puts the UK firmly at the forefront of the high-speed rail revolution with a billion-pound investment in state-of-the-art trains serving communities across the country, from London to Glasgow. “Trains under construction in Derby, Newton Aycliffe and Crewe will transform rail transport, providing passengers with unprecedented levels of reliability, speed and comfort, contributing to the fight against climate change. Andrew Cubitt, Head of Supply and Supply Chain at HS2 Ltd., said: “Kier will play a crucial role in implementing the next stage of the UK`s new high-speed train from Birmingham to Crewe in the north and I am delighted to welcome them to the team.” The first project under the new agreement will be led by the University of Birmingham and will use simulation models to improve understanding of the performance of expansion joints used on high-speed railways. Designed in the UK and capable of reaching speeds of up to 225 mph (360 km/h), the fully electric trains will also serve destinations on the existing network such as Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham. Building on some of the latest technologies from the European high-speed grid and Japanese Shinkansen high-speed trains, the new UK trains will be among the fastest, quietest and most energy-efficient high-speed trains in the world. The programme already supports more than 16,000 jobs and more than 500 training places. It aims to transform transport links between major UK cities, free up space and the rail network for more freight and local transport services and support the UK`s transition to net-zero carbon emissions. The agreement with the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) will enable HS2 Ltd to be at the forefront of innovation in the rail sector and accelerate new technologies and products from research in commercial applications worldwide.

Today`s announcement follows the announcement of the largest public investment in the UK rail network last month. Journeys via HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, from London and the Pennines, will be faster, more frequent and more reliable over the next few decades as part of the government`s integrated rail plan – including shorter journeys between Leeds and Manchester, Nottingham and Birmingham, and London and Sheffield. Kier is providing civil works on an 80 km stretch of the new high-speed rail link between the Chiltern Tunnel and Long Itchington Wood as part of the EKFB joint venture (Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial and BAM). The works include 6.9 km of green tunnels, 15 viaducts, 22 km of road diversions, 81 bridges and approximately 30 million cubic meters of excavation. Kier Construction Ltd has been awarded a contract for Phase 2a of HS2, a major plan to connect the North to the West Midlands. The project will complement the existing rail network to go directly to destinations such as Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow. The new rolling stock will be able to reach speeds of up to 225 mph (360 km/h), with all-electric trains also running on the existing network to destinations such as Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and the North West, and running on the HS2 line between London, the West Midlands and Crewe. This not only shows that we are starting our plans to modernise the rail network with better and faster travel, but it is also another important step in the supply of HS2, which will preserve 2,500 jobs and improve employment and leisure opportunities for future generations. Signing the agreement with UKRRIN on behalf of HS2 Ltd, Howard Mitchell, Head of Project Innovation, said: “HS2 is a great opportunity for UK Science and UK plc to come together and take on the challenge of providing a huge investment in the country`s future.

The scale and longevity of the programme creates the conditions for the development of solutions for high-speed 2 and for the entire rail industry, both of which are crucial to helping the UK decarbonise. Professor Stephen Jarvis, Director of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham, said: “By supporting HS2`s research programme, we can help accelerate progress that will improve UK railways by increasing capacity and reducing the system`s carbon footprint. Through initiatives like these, we can put the UK at the forefront of rail innovation and do our part to restore the UK economy. In addition to the “3”Cs – increasing capacity on the rail network, improving connectivity in the UK and creating a low-carbon transport alternative – the construction of the HS2 will also showcase the best of the UK`s skills, innovation and engineering, and this partnership is a shining example of that. .