DELIVERING HIGH SPEED 2 MAJOR PROJECT REPORT New rail reality Developing a £33bn rail network to transform Uk’s north-soUth 03|2012 CONNECTIONS Special report | High Speed 2 03 | 2012 Foreword 04 infrastructure specialists who supply the rail Introduction industry. Many of them are already helping HS2 Ltd chief executive Alison Munro us deliver Crossrail, Thameslink, electrifica- updates on the project’s progress tion, and upgrades to major stations like Reading and Birmingham. But even the 08 largest of these schemes will be dwarfed in Technical challenge size by HS2. So the challenge is for British Why the current London to West firms to develop the expertise to compete Midlands route is the best for key high speed contracts, and help deliver Britain’s Victorian engineering HS2 on time and on budget. 12 pioneers built a railway that was the The government’s National Infrastructure Euston envy of the world. Such was their Plan makes clear the importance of a predict- vision and singular focus that able and transparent pipeline of infrastruc- Expanding the station presents a ❝ following the opening of the first intercity line regeneration opportunity ture projects that will help the private sector between Manchester and Liverpool in 1830, it invest and plan for the future. HS2 will form 14 took just a little over two decades to construct a a key element of that long-term pipeline, Euston masterplan national rail network which linked all our major providing certainty about future contracting cities, and transformed our economy. Designs for Euston station opportunities following the Yet the modern reality is that since the terminus are vital to the project completion of Crossrail in 2017. coming of the motorways more than 50 To ensure that the UK-based supply chain 16 years ago, we have failed to grasp the nettle is in a position to benefit as far as possible London Metropolitan on decisions that will help us achieve our from this project, the government will open long term aspirations. We can’t simply hope Taking the route out of the capital a dialogue with potential suppliers to ensure for a better and more prosperous future – through a twin bore tunnel they are well-placed to bid competitively. I this Government passionately believes we want to put our best minds to work on high 20 will have to build it, just as the Victorians did. speed, and to find uniquely British solu- Country South If we want our economy to flourish once tions to the challenges we face. I also want again, I strongly believe that we need an The route through Buckinghamshire Britain to become a centre of excellence innovative and ambitious response to the and the Chilterns for high speed technologies and services, transport problems we face. In particular, we with a world-class R&D capability. Although 22 must tackle overcrowding on our railway, and at times we will have to collaborate with Country North meet rapidly growing demand for intercity companies from other countries, from the rail travel. Overground across the very start our priority must be to develop Investing in our current railway network is South Midlands the home-grown skills that will not only help vital, but the scope for squeezing ever more build HS2 – but that can be used in other 26 capacity out of our ageing network is dimin- markets as high speed rail is increasingly ishing. That is why in January, after analys- adopted by countries around the globe. Birmingham ing almost 55,000 responses to our public This is an exciting time for everyone in the Route into the second city and consultation, I announced the go-ahead for railway industry. After decades of decline, the connection to the North High Speed 2 (HS2): a new national high it is time to raise our sights, and show that 28 speed railway that will transform links across Britain has the ambition and capability to the country, and provide a legacy of jobs and deliver a world class railway programme for Profile growth for generations to come. the 21st century. HS2 Ltd chairman Sir Brian Briscoe on HS2 will also offer an historic opportu- Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, the role of public consultation design nity for the engineering, technology and Secretary of State for Transport NCE March 2012 3 Special report | High Speed 2 3 | 2012 Getting ECONOMIC BENEFITS £47-59bn 60% 40,000 ready Expected return to the Expected proportion of Estimated number of jobs NEEDS WRITE TO FIT. economy from the full HS2 overall HS2 benefits from that phase 1 of HS2 could BOX 1 and TIMELINE network as calculated by the trips that start outside support in the areas served for take off government London by the new line Introduction Interchange with Leeds Interchange with HS2 phase 1 routes North routes North HS2 phase 2 South by Antony Oliver to Glasgow to Newcastle HS1 Yorkshire and Edinburgh Existing track Liverpool East Midlands Crossrail Manchester station High Speed two Ltd And while the speed of getting the (HS2 Ltd) chief High Speed 2 (HS2) project to this stage may be somewhat surreal, the Birmingham Birmingham Int. executive alison Munro scale of the challenge facing Munro Curzon Street has been leading the and her team as they guide the fi rst London Birmingham St. Pancras team since 2009 and is London to West Midlands section Interchange HS1 links with through planning and towards start of now reshaping the Old Oak Common Ashford Europe: Amsterdam, construction in 2017 is very much a Interchange with Brussells, Paris Heathrow £33bn project ready for daunting reality. Crossrail and HS1 “The role is changing from advising its next phase following London Folkestone government to having a more specifi c the government’s Euston brief to promote the project,” she decision to press ahead explains. “Now that we have the in January. go-ahead, we can now go out and make the case for HS2. But the scale of what we’re currently doing is of a TIME SAVINGS When experienced senior civil servant diff erent magnitude.” Journey Time with HS2 Current Saving Alison Munro was asked in 2009 to As will be the breadth of skills Birmingham to London 45 mins 1 hr 24 mins 39 mins lead a small team on a one year required. As a result, Munro’s fi rst task project to prepare a report into the has been to reorganise project Manchester to London 1 hr 08 mins 2 hrs 8 mins 1 hr feasibility of new high speed rail lines promoter HS2 Ltd and bring on board Leeds to London 1 hr 24 mins 2 hrs 20 mins 56 mins in the UK, the subject was barely on new individuals and teams capable of the political landscape. driving the project through the hybrid Glasgow/Edinburgh to London approx. 3 hrs 30 mins 4 hrs 30 mins 1 hr Just over three years later the Birmingham to Leeds 57 mins 2 hrs 1 hr 3 mins programme is not only still running but now has morphed into a realistic “now that we have the Birmingham to Manchester 41 mins 1 hr 30 mins 49 mins proposition with cross party political go-ahead, we can now make Birmingham to Brussels/Paris approx. 3 hrs 4 hrs 1 hr support and a positive decision by the the case for High Speed two” Leeds/Manchester to Brussels/Paris 3 hs 30 mins 4 hrs 30 mins 1 hr secretary of state to proceed. It is, she Alison Munro, HS2 Ltd says, a really satisfying achievement. infographic: © www.paulweston.info TIMELINEHS2 - PHASE 1 PROGRAMME HS2 - PHASE 2 PROGRAMME January 2012 Spring 2012 Spring 2013 2015 Spring 2012 Early 2014 Go ahead for London to Engagement programme on phase 1 Consultation on Environmental Target for Royal Assent for the hybrid Government receives HS2 Ltd Consultation on preferred route West Midlands hybrid bill on Environmental Impact Assessment Statement for phase 1 bill, legal powers to build HS2 advice on phase 2 route options 2025 and Y network to Leeds and Autumn 2012 End of 2013 2017-2025 Construction Autumn 2012 Manchester Construction starts New blight scheme and Introduction of a hybrid bill to provide 2026 Preferred route published Spring 2012 2032 safeguarding zone in place powers to construct and operate phase 1 Line opens to passengers Public consultation on blight Complete HS2 opens to passengers 04 NCE March 2012 Special report | High Speed 2 3 | 2012 ECONOMIC BENEFITS WHat’s HappeNiNG WHeN High Speed 2 will be planned and constructed in two This phase will include four high speed rail stations – initial phases as part of an overall long-term plan to in central London at Euston, Old Oak Common in West £47-59bn 60% 40,000 create a so-called “Y-shaped” high speed rail network London, Birmingham Airport Interchange and central Expected return to the Expected proportion of Estimated number of jobs across the entire country. Birmingham at Curzon Street. economy from the full HS2 overall HS2 benefits from that phase 1 of HS2 could NEEDS WRITE TO FIT. Government approval to proceed toward with the Y PHASE 2: Expected to open 2032/33 and providing network as calculated by the trips that start outside support in the areas served BOX 1 and TIMELINE network extension from London to Birmingham and on dedicated high speed services beyond the West government London by the new line to Manchester and Leeds was given in January 2012. Midlands to Manchester and Leeds with direct high speed services to Heathrow Airport. High speed PHASE 1: Expected to open in 2026 with dedicated high trains will also continue onto the existing network at speed services between London and the West Midlands.