DELIVERING 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 , , electrifica- updates on the project’s progress tion, and upgrades to major stations like Reading and . 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 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 line regeneration opportunity ture projects that will help the private sector between and 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 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 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 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

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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 Interchange with HS2 phase 1 routes North routes North HS2 phase 2 South by Antony Oliver to to Newcastle HS1 and Existing track Liverpool 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 section Interchange HS1 links with through planning and towards start of now reshaping the Ashford Europe: Amsterdam, construction in 2017 is very much a Interchange with Brussells, 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

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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 at Euston, Old Oak Common in West £47-59bn 60% 40,000 create a so-called “Y-shaped” high speed rail network London, 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 . 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. conventional speeds to serve the North East, North West There will also be direct high speed services to the and . This second phase will add further stations Interchange with Leeds Interchange with HS2 phase 1 , via . High speed trains in Manchester, the East Midlands, , Leeds routes North routes North HS2 phase 2 will also be able to transfer onto the existing network at and Heathrow. South to Glasgow to Newcastle HS1 conventional speeds, in the North West and Scotland. Yorkshire and Edinburgh Existing track Liverpool East Midlands Crossrail Manchester station bill process and on towards construc- Douglas Oakervee as HS2 Ltd tion. chairman to replace the retiring Sir Birmingham Birmingham Int. The appointment last month of Brian Briscoe, is the fi rst of a raft of Curzon Street CH2M Hill to the take on the crucial new non-executive directors who will London role of development partner is central be brought in to boost the specifi c Birmingham St. Pancras Interchange HS1 links with to this change. This CH2M Hill team, board skills needed in the next stage. led by major project veteran Roy Hill, Munro’s own chief executive role is Old Oak Common Ashford Europe: Amsterdam, Interchange with Brussells, Paris will seamlessly integrate with HS2 Ltd also up for renewal. But given that she Heathrow Crossrail and HS1 and join a number of other new direct only initially expected the job to last a recruits to the project which will see year, this need to reassess the HS2 Ltd London Folkestone those involved climb from around 90 skillset is, she says, natural on such a Euston last year to over 300. major public project. “It is more deepening of skills rather She is clear that getting the right than broadening them,” she explains, people with the right skills across the TIME SAVINGS accepting that bringing in CH2M Hill “to get the kind of project project is crucial, and given the would also enable the project to management skills we need, timescales, it has to be done quickly. Journey Time with HS2 Current Saving accelerate quicker. “We did consider doing the project a well tested approach is to Birmingham to London 45 mins 1 hr 24 mins 39 mins “It’s partly a question of speed. To management in-house but even if we get the kind of project management buy in that skill rather than weren’t trying to do it as quickly as we Manchester to London 1 hr 08 mins 2 hrs 8 mins 1 hr skills we need, a well tested approach try to develop it” are, thought it would be diffi cult to get Leeds to London 1 hr 24 mins 2 hrs 20 mins 56 mins is to buy in that skill rather than try to all of the best skills,” she explains. “Our develop it in-house. There is a specifi c Alison Munro, HS2 Ltd conclusion was that we should bring a Glasgow/Edinburgh to London approx. 3 hrs 30 mins 4 hrs 30 mins 1 hr task to do here and CH2M Hill is very development partner in.” Birmingham to Leeds 57 mins 2 hrs 1 hr 3 mins experienced in providing that However, she also points out that expertise.” since HS2 will potentially run as a Birmingham to Manchester 41 mins 1 hr 30 mins 49 mins In recognition of the need for a project for several decades and in Birmingham to Brussels/Paris approx. 3 hrs 4 hrs 1 hr deepening of skills, the HS2 project is £32.67bn several phases (see box, above,on also reviewing and strengthening its outturn cost for the entire HS2 project phasing), the project will Leeds/Manchester to Brussels/Paris 3 hs 30 mins 4 hrs 30 mins 1 hr management board. The appointment Y network between London, gradually build up its own skill base this week of major projects veteran Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds and expertise over time. In addition, a 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

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“Ultimately we are expecting capital cost estimate to let around 17 [professional London to WeSt MidLandS at 2011 priceS services contract] packages construction costs by the end of March” item £ includes Alison Munro, HS2 Ltd Rail systems £510M Track, ballast, fencing, drainage, junctions Control systems £145M Signalling control and telecommunications Traction Power systems £185M equipment and power supply number of staff are Stations £1,675M Euston, Old Oak Common, , Curzon St co-located with HS2 Ltd to boost Civil Works £585M Earthworks, retaining walls and roads collaboration and it is hoped that a Structures £790M Bridges and viaducts similar arrangement will be estab- £1,410M Twin and single bore tunnels lished with other partners such as Utilities £120M Relocation of utilities e.g. water, power . Additional items £470M and rail reconstruction work “The process that we’re going through for the London to West Contractor administration costs £775M Preparatory work, site supervision, testing, training, spare equipment. Midlands stage, we expect to go total construction cost £6,665M Excluding risk through again for the second Y section in additional preliminary and planning costs a few years,” she says. “We don’t want Environmental mitigation £250M Additional environmental mitigation to find at that stage that we lose all of Land acquisition/compensation plus scheme administration our expertise and have to start from Land costs/compensation £965M (as assessed at Sept 2011) scratch. We want to use this opportunity Depot facilities £500M Main rolling stock depot, London stabling and infrastructure maintenance depot to help build our own skills as well.” Provisional sum £225M Allowance for emerging requirements from concept of operations work It is not, of course, just about project Project overheads £435M Client and project management costs direction and management skills. Design £600M All design costs and topographical/ground investigation surveys Having established a route and line in space between London and Birming- Existing rail interface costs £190M Possession management, compensation for operational disruption ham, HS2 Ltd now has a huge amount Statutory charges £70M Consultation and planning consent related costs of work to do under the leadership of total additional planning cost £3,165M Excluding risk technical director Andrew McNaughton risk provisions to ensure that its passage though the Construction risk £2,215M Route section and route-wide construction risks from the Quantified Risk Analysis hybrid bill process is robust. Provision for external risks in line with HM Treasury Supplementary Green Book That will see HS2 Ltd first boosting its Additional scheme risk provision £4,165M Guidance own technical skills and then working total risk provision £6,380M with professional services contractors and consultants over the next 18 eStiMated totaL coSt (Mean) for London to WeSt MidLandS £16,280M At Q2 2011 prices months as the project prepares for, then deposits, the hybrid bill documentation with Parliament. “Ultimately we are expecting to let programme is necessarily under her spent effectively, not least in the scope creep. It’s about going forward around 17 [professional services control. It is not, she explains, an current economic climate where all with everything right first time.” contract] packages by the end of entirely sequential exercise but more costs will be scrutinised. Right now, Munro’s priority is to March,” she explains, pointing out that of an iterative one, as comments from However, the bigger number, of press ahead with the work to prepare having identified firms on a four part locals and organisations inevitably lead course, is the £16.3bn price tag for the for the environmental consultation and framework the process of letting to modifications which in turn can entire London to West Midlands to continue the process of talking to contracts should be greatly simplified. impact the environmental assessment. stretch. Planning to stay within that communities to agree mitigation “There’s a large volume to do and it “We’re relying on our contractors to outturn cost starts now, she says. measures and so potentially reduce is a very large challenge,” she says. deliver quality work but we are “Our ambition is to make this the number of petitioners to hear “The first challenge is [depositing] the responsible for making sure that it project the first that sticks to its original during the hybrid bill committee stage. hybrid bill [by the end of 2013]. It is meets our requirements,” she says. cost estimates,” she says. “It is quite an She also accepts that there may be achievable but we need everything to “Their reputations are at risk so they ambitious challenge and will require areas where HS2 Ltd can do little to go very smoothly.” have an interest themselves in doing it improved decision-making, stream- mitigate concerns and despite cross One of the most important well. I think that they will be pretty lined governance and a need to avoid party support, maintaining a robust milestones, she explains, is to start the strongly motivated to do a good job.” and honest discussion with local consultation on the draft environmen- Alongside the considerable communities is vital. tal statement by spring next year. Last programme challenges, Munro is also “We’re relying on our “There is a lot of political support but month Arup was awarded the contract wrestling with the need to keep the contractors to deliver quality we have to maintain and build that to oversee environmental investigation HS2 project on track financially. work but we are responsible support,” she explains. “So people work and produce the report on which Government has committed £750M query why it will take so long to open. If the consultation will be based. in the last Comprehensive Spending for making sure that it meets we deliver this by 2026 that will be a And of course she is aware that, Review to drive the project through the our requirements” good result, but this is a democracy. We given the nature of the consultation planning phase until March 2015. It is a Alison Munro, HS2 Ltd do have to consult people and listen to process, not every step along the considerable sum and needs to be what they say.”

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High speed mastermind: Andrew McNaughton’s 55,000 goal has been to design Number of consultation responses HS2 right first time received by High Speed Two

400km/h Design speed of HS2 track

“The biggest challenge is to set out our logistics plan – how it would be built” Andrew McNaughton HS2 Ltd

For the last three years space and demonstrate that Andrew McNaughton technically, environmentally, socially The conductor and financially it stacks up as a railway. has led the operations, “My belief after three years is that engineering and route the line is pretty much optimised,” says development team on McNaughton. “What we have is the behind the the High Speed 2 result of an unusually detailed feasibility study. But because of the project. In his view the rigours of consultation – it has been current route is the best examined by three secretaries of state grand design line between London – to describe it as just a feasibility study and the West Midlands. is too light.” Of course, the challenge goes beyond simply finding a route that For High Speed Two Ltd (HS2 Ltd) delivers the rail capacity and economic for UK’s new technical director Andrew McNaughton benefits, and which can be supported the achievement of bringing a new by local populations. McNaughton’s railway project to life in just three years other challenge – one certain to be is matched only by the scale of what underlined by new chairman Douglas high speed rail still has to be done to open it by 2026. Oakervee – is to ensure that it can be It was, he points out, only in 2009 built inside the project’s overall that the Labour government and then £16.3bn budget. That means being Transport Secretary Lord Adonis first clear not just about what you build, but mooted the concept of building a new also how it will be built. high speed rail network in the UK. “The biggest challenge now is to set The technical challenge But having got the go-ahead from out our logistics plan – how it would be by Antony Oliver current transport secretary Justine built,” he explains, highlighting that Greening in January, the next stage of much of the consultation response negotiating successful passage through from locals along the route concerned a hybrid bill to get planning permission the specifics of ‘how will you build it?’; will see McNaughton take a line in ‘what will be the disruption whilst you

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THE WAY FORWARD LOCATORCambridge Cannock 4 M42 M6 Birmingham Nuneaton East Coast Mainline Crossrail Walsall Interchange M1 B’ham M6 Euston Wolverhampton Rugby Interchange 5 Birmingham Interchange SECTIONNorthampton 3: Curzon Street Station Country South - Oxfordshire, M25 Dudley BIRMINGHAM Buckinghamshire and LONDON Warwick M11 M1 SECTION 5: M42 Royal Milton Luton Redditch Leamington Spa Keynes Birmingham Metropolitan - spur line, 3 Buckingham Birmingham Interchange and Curzon St Station M40 SECTION 2: SECTIONM25 1: Banbury London Metropolitan – Euston London Euston St Albans SECTION 4: to the edge of London and M25 redevelopment Country North - Warwickshire Bicester through to Lichfield and link King’s Cross 10km back onto WCML Station HS2 POSTM40 Crossrail M25 Interchange N 10 miles CONSULTATION ROUTE Chilterns M5 2 1 Euston Station High Wycombe Oxford 2026 225km 5 £16.3bn Expected opening date for 13 Route between Euston Number of geographical Overall outturn cost for phase 1 of HS2 The number of major Station and Curzon regions into which this phase 1 of HS2 changes ordered along the Street Station in project split. Each has its length of the original route Birmingham own consulting team in the government's decision to proceed

build it?’; ‘will there be lorries down route goes they have now got it pretty both the proposed route details and that every section of the whole route the country lanes?’; ‘how far can you much in the right place. the overarching concept of building a recieved the same local focus by the build it on line?’; and ‘where will the “We believe that our line in space, new high speed rail network in the UK. team as it assessed the 55,000 muck go?. So we need to progress the within the limitations of mapping, is As part of transport secretary Justine consultation responses received. development to a stage that is close to accurate,” he says. “Very fi ne tweaking Greening’s decision in January to press “Despite views to the contrary, we a design you can go and construct,” he of the line has been a featureNEED of theWRITE forwardTO FIT with the project, numerous have not given undue emphasis to the says. “The build-ability will have been work over the last year. Debating [for signifi cant areas of change were also Chilterns,” he says. “We have, of course hugely thought through.” example] with a village whether to introduced to the scheme’s alignment given appropriate emphasis and there Hence the project has invested time lower the track for example by 2m or and mitigation treatment (see route are signifi cant changes to the route and design eff ort up-front to describe 4m is quite detailed stuff .” plans, pages 12-28). through the Chilterns but overall we to local people what the railway would The fact the route has been One of the headline changes was to looked at 28 areas, each several be like if it was to be built. The rigour of challenged, consulted on and backed join up the two tunnels beneath in the kilometres long, from the top to the doing that for 40 consultation events, by three separate secretaries of state, Chilterns and add another 3km of bottom of the route.” he says, took the project way beyond he says, underlines the value of this bored tunnel to reduce visual and noise Representations included moving the kind of design detail that you approach. These rigorous reviews and impact in this environmentally and the route away from villages, lowering would normally expect at this stage. then the exposure to public consulta- politically sensitive area. the route by small amounts to reduce However, by investing in this level of tion has led to a number of important “That made sense on many levels noise impacts, and introducing detail early McNaughton believes that, material and detailed route changes both in terms of consultation response additional bunding to shield the route while specifi c landscaping and other and, he adds, this will deliver a better and our construction programme,” he or introducing so-called “green mitigation measures will of course be and more supportable railway line. explains. “Originally we weren’t tunnels” in place of open cut to reduce refi ned and added later, as far as the “I think that it refl ects the march looking to be in tunnel more that we land take. Given that a change in one forward,” says McNaughton. “At this needed to be, but actually through the place can introduce an impact maybe stage HS1 was far less defi ned and consultation process we got more 2km to 3km away, it has been a “Because of the rigours of there were far more changes as it went information about aquifers, realised complex and iterative process. public consultation, to just through the bill process. we are also we needed to amend the planned “The wonderful thing about dealing describe it as a feasibility further ahead [in terms of route design alignment and concluded that there with a local community is that no one detail] than Crossrail was at this stage.” was no longer a downside in joining knows their local area better,” he study is too light” The most recent changes to the them to form a single 13km tunnel.” explains. “Once the route is out there Andrew McNaughton, scheme followed the major consulta- However, while the changes in the you can consult over how to make it HS2 Ltd tion exercise between February and area have grabbed most better and I do think that the route July last year. This sought views on of the attention, McNaughton insists post-consultation is much better than

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having a full geotechnical survey,” he FASTER: HS2 LINE SPEED HS2 NETWORK says. “It is based on tried and tested Birmingham, technology but we are looking at how interchange with HS2 has been designed with to do it better. Innovation will either local services a maximum design speed of give us the product at a lower price or a 400km/h with trains initially better product for the same money. I planned to run at 360km/h. want people’s know-how.” Birmingham McNaughton says his biggest Interchange This is much higher than High challenge now is to complete the huge Speed One’s 300km/h line speed amount of work to be done ahead of 49mins and higher than the 320km/h depositing the hybrid bill at the end of Birmingham - Euston which is standard on other 2013. Despite a potential opening date European high speed networks. being still 14 years away, he insists that While current technology HS2 is a “remarkably fast programme”. 360kph suggests that 360km/h is state of Reference train: ’s new AGV “In 22 months we have to prepare the art, it is certain that faster and the environmental statement and then Line speeds approaching 360kph more efficient trains are already Alstom’s latest AGV model – as the consult on it – and that will take being developed. reference design for rolling stock. between 12 or 13 weeks,” he explains. Many Spanish lines are now This 360km/h train is now being “Before you publish the environmental 100miles designed with line speeds of trialled by Italian rail operator NTV. statement you have to assess the 380km/h with trains running at “Lower speed will give lower impacts, so we are saying to our Approximate distance, Birmingham to Euston 350km/h. Meanwhile, Russia’s maintenance costs to the point contractors that 12 months from now new to Leningrad and where walking speed will give you we have to have broken the backbone Old Oak Common Italy’s new high speed lines are none,” explains McNaughton. “But of the work.” interchange HS1 being designed to 400km/h speed gives you economic benefits. The two priorities were to let the and Bombardier is designing a Fundamentally, if you lower speed development partner contract and 400km/h train. we would not put it in a different bring CH2M Hill on board to help drive London Euston, To give the design assumptions place. We found that you were just the project forward, and then let the Interchange with more reality, McNaughton chose to moving the problem from one place environmental overview contracts to and local services use a real and available train set – to another.” Arup to get the 2011/12 winter bird survey started – a key item – migrating birds don’t wait for procurement. the route pre-consultation. We have mitigation and foundation design. A Over the next few months dozens of had a huge raft of very carefully smaller highway bridge would likely be “Our conclusion has been other specialist contracts will be let to thought through and constructive standardised, but the project must be to assume that we are not help get the vast amount of work comments.” able to answer questions about how always right” done. However, McNaughton insists However, having been through such the infrastructure will be built, he says. that HS2 Ltd will maintain a strong an extensive process of change, HS2 Ltd has also introduced a Andrew McNaughton, client role as the scheme integrator. McNaughton is clear that, from an significant number of artificial “green” HS2 Ltd “We are transforming HS2 Ltd from engineering perspective, the project tunnels rather than cuttings, which a body advising government to now needs to get stuck into the design take less land, reduce severance and become the promoter. Until now our detail ahead of hybrid bill publication. impact on agriculture and woodland. “We will feel our way,” he explains job has been to advise the secretary of That means doing sufficient “You are always balancing people adding that talks have already started state. Now we need a lot of other skills geotechnical investigation to be able to with countryside, flora, fauna, with the industry. “It is pre-competitive to drive the development phase,” he answer important questions such as archaeology, heritage, hydrology and and everything will go out to says. “Opening in 2026 really is going whether to use ballasted or slab track some of the balancing is genuinely a competitive tender many years from it in terms of programme, even by or providing more detail on what the matter of judgement,” he says. “Our now. But this is a massive project and it international standards,” he says. “If form of bridges and viaducts might be. approach has been to assume that we has got to be an exemplar – the we achieve that date, from the Getting beyond the generic, he says, are not always right. We think that it is showcase for how good the UK design government’s decision to investigate will be important if potential bill our best shot and we have been and construction industry can be.” high speed rail in 2009 to opening is petitioners are expected to make superbly supported by Arup’s global That means sticking to the budget only 17 years – that is as good as meaningful comment on the scheme. rail team but we have been and are – something that the UK infrastructure France, Germany , Italy or Holland.” “The actual Bill submission is laid open to suggestions in the next stage delivery industry has not always been “We are spending time getting it down by standing orders and the through comment and our forums.” particularly good at in the past. right up front then so we can move formal submission is still very Victorian, There is a lot to do in the next 18 HS2’s £16.3bn out-turn price is in swiftly to construction. What keeps me requiring simply a centre line, long and months and bringing in CH2M Hill and fact £12.15bn plus optimism bias – a awake at night is grey haired old cross sections and limits of deviation,” many other professional services figure that McNaughton points out is railway men saying it won’t happen,” he explains. “But to back it up we will contractors will be critical to progress. needed for Treasury approval and not he adds, pointing out that the amount need more detail.” But another challenge is working cash “sitting in our pocket waiting for of technical work done to get HS2 to For example, structures such as the out how to bring the contracting us to spend”. It is, he adds, for truly this point in planning is immense. “I viaduct across the Colne Valley SSSI, he industry in early, which McNaughton unforeseen circumstances. have absolute respect for people who explains, HS2 Ltd will have to be pretty says will be vital if the scheme is to be “We genuinely believe the price lobby against it. But I have less time for certain about its appearance, noise built effectively and to cost. covers the unknowns even despite not those who just say it won’t work.”

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HS2 route in detail SECTION 1: EUSTON TRACK REBUILD COLLABORATION Section 1: Euston 2,000 All the existing tracks into Network Rail, Transport for Train 180 Euston will be rebuilt while London and the train operating Camden High Street speed km/h NEW HS2 Number of potential jobs from maintaining the existing companies will collaborate to TUNNEL PORTAL Euston regeneration commuter and long distance input to the detail design and domestic services planning particularly as the High Speed route leaves London ROUTE OF NEW regeneration TUNNEL Parkway 100 Train speed km/h KINGS CROSS Mornington Terrace driver Crowndale Rd Mornington

Morn Crescent ST PANCRAS STATION ington 7.25 m ø Village East

Hamps Cres LOWERED TRACK LANDMARK STATION cent Albany Street infographic: © www.paulweston.info tead Road The existing tracks out of Euston will The creation of a new landmark be lowered to maintain clearance station and complete Birmingham Railway. The original The choice of Euston beneath Hampstead Road reconstruction of the existing station building was constructed by station including a huge Station in north engineering contractor William Cubitt London as the arrival extension to the current and featured a 61m train shed TWIN BORE TUNNEL GRADE SEPARATION undersized London Under- and departure point designed by structural engineer Takes the line from throat of will be introduced to the throat ground station concourse for High Speed Two Charles Fox. New Euston to the Crossrail of the Euston to increase the 50 Train speed km/h trains presents the The station inevitably grew as train Interchange at Old Oak Common capacity of trains entering and services expanded and prompted the some 7400m away leaving the station on high capital with a vast Great Hall to be constructed in 1849. speed and domestic lines New longer platforms urban regeneration However, a century later it was Stanhope Street

deemed inadequate and controver- REGENTS PARK opportunity. Eversholt Street sially the old station was demolished 430 m SOMERS TOWN and replaced in 1968 with the current Outer Circle Anyone familiar with the existing low box structure.

Hampstead

Euston mainline and London With 18 existing platforms bringing Albany Street Over half of the properties EUSTON STATION Underground stations will be very passengers in from the newly affected by the HS2 scheme aware that both are already operating upgraded West Coast Mainline, the between London and Birming- at and beyond their original design station is now once again bursting at 100 m ham are in and around Camden. capacity. the seams. Whether simply catching a The plans will require a large 0.125 mile Robert Street When it opened in 1837 it was the train or interchanging between the N Chester Road scale demolition and relocation capital’s fi rst intercity station with two Tube’s two branches, the of social housing in the Regents platforms for trains on the London and , the ROUTE LOCATOR Park Estate in Camden Euston station Road service or buses service or simply redevelopment area completing a journey by foot, passengers are greeted by overcrowd- ing and discomfort. LONDON Clearly the decision to add the new Euston Road High Speed Two (HS2) London £10M terminal to this congested transport Birmingham Cost of the design contract to develop HS2 - Post interchange will require a major Consultation Route EUSTON MASTERPLAN preliminary designs for Euston let to overhaul of the station. Engineering Arup, Costain and Grimshaw 17 The Euston masterplan will 430m consultant Arup, supported by offer the opportunity to A development area the size The length of the new platforms contractor Costain and architecture re-establish the historic street London of 17 Emirates Stadiums will incorporated into the new practice Grimshaw, was this month patterns as the design offer a spectacular and long station design. The existing appointed to lead the redesign of the philosophy to create a new Euston awaited revamp of the north domestic rail platforms will be 18 station and to create a world class concourse below street level London area reconstructed and reorganised as Number of existing platforms terminus for the HS2 project. 1 N Chilterns part of the station upgrade currently serving Euston station The £10M design contract will

12 NCE March 2012 Special report | High Speed 2 3 | 2012

develop preliminary designs to both SECTION 1: EUSTON TRACK REBUILD COLLABORATION transform the existing tired and 2,000 All the existing tracks into Network Rail, Transport for overcrowded mainline station, while Train 180 Euston will be rebuilt while London and the train operating also upgrading and substantially Camden High Street speed km/h NEW HS2 Number of potential jobs from maintaining the existing companies will collaborate to enlarging the interchange and TUNNEL PORTAL Euston regeneration commuter and long distance input to the detail design and concourse for the underground domestic services planning particularly as the station. route leaves London The initial plans will see a concourse ROUTE OF NEW created below ground level, with TUNNEL platforms beneath and the opportu- nity to recreate and reconnect the original street patterns that were

Parkway disrupted by the 1960s construction. CAMDEN TOWN HS2 Ltd reckons the new station 100 Train speed km/h KINGS CROSS development has the potential to Mornington Terrace support the creation of 2,000 jobs and Crowndale Rd provide new modern offi ces and retail Mornington space alongside the opportunity for

Morn Crescent ST PANCRAS new public spaces and community STATION facilities. ington 7.25 m ø While a major swathe of social Village East housing in the Camden area will have

Hamps Cres LOWERED TRACK LANDMARK STATION to be demolished and relocated, cent

infographic: © www.paulweston.info signifi cantly the plan provides the basis Albany Street tead Road The existing tracks out of Euston will The creation of a new landmark for a long term plan to regenerate the be lowered to maintain clearance station and complete entire area surrounding the station beneath Hampstead Road reconstruction of the existing and approach tracks. station including a huge The total area is vast and equivalent extension to the current TWIN BORE TUNNEL GRADE SEPARATION undersized London Under- to around 17 developments the size of Arsenal’s Emirates stadium, rivalling Takes the line from throat of will be introduced to the throat ground station concourse New Euston to the Crossrail of the Euston to increase the 50 Train speed km/h the current redevelopment underway Interchange at Old Oak Common capacity of trains entering and at King’s Cross to the east. some 7400m away leaving the station on high “Rebuilding Euston will inevitably speed and domestic lines New longer platforms cause signifi cant disruption but we are Stanhope Street committed to working closely with the

REGENTS PARK and the Eversholt Street 430 m SOMERS TOWN GLA with the intention of agreeing a joint strategy for the Euston area and Outer Circle providing new social housing to

Hampstead

Albany Street Over half of the properties EUSTON STATION replace any that is compulsorily affected by the HS2 scheme purchased,” explains HS2 Ltd chief between London and Birming- executive Alison Munro. 100 m ham are in and around Camden. “Our long term vision for Euston sta- The plans will require a large Euston Road tion is to provide the principal rail 0.125 mile Robert Street N Chester Road scale demolition and relocation gateway for high speed rail services of social housing in the Regents from London to the West Midlands, ROUTE LOCATOR Park Estate in Camden Euston station and onto the north west and north Road redevelopment area east of England, and Scotland.”

LONDON Euston Road “Our long term vision for Euston station is to provide Birmingham HS2 - Post the principal rail gateway EUSTON MASTERPLAN Consultation Route for high speed rail services 17 The Euston masterplan will 430m offer the opportunity to from London to the West A development area the size The length of the new platforms re-establish the historic street London of 17 Emirates Stadiums will incorporated into the new Midlands, and onto the patterns as the design offer a spectacular and long station design. The existing north west and north east philosophy to create a new Euston awaited revamp of the north domestic rail platforms will be concourse below street level of England, and Scotland” London area reconstructed and reorganised as 1 N Chilterns part of the station upgrade Alison Munro, HS2 Ltd

NCE March 2012 13 Special Report | High Speed 2 3 | 2012

HS2 Route in Detail Section 1: Euston The Masterplan

Given the on-going it original high speed rail command pedestrian link to St Pancras and King’s paper. Farrell’s priority was to help Cross could, suggests Farrell, create controversy over the government avoid falling foul of poor “Europe’s super-rail hub”. Together the route of HS2 as it planning and missed regeneration three stations could carry over 250M picks its way through opportunities that the UK had perhaps passengers a year – more than double the English landscape, suffered from in the past. the combined current footfall through Farrell and his practice was brought London’s three main airports. it might seem a little into the HS2 scheme early by then The plan would put the platforms premature to be talking transport secretary Lord Adonis and nearly two storeys below ground level, in any great detail with his experience of master-planning which could allow for the introduction about station along the Euston Road corridor in of new streets and public squares central London, offered a vision for a above the concourse level. At Euston development. But new hub at Euston Station that was Road, Farrell’s proposition of a designs for Euston are included in Adonis’s paper. reconstructed at a new crucial. Alex Wynne Until then¸ the new HS2 station was “Every major station will public square would mirror the planned between the HS1 at St Pancras 00% restorations of the facades of St reports. and the adjacent King’s Cross. However, Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxhave a major city-making Pancras and King’s Cross, the latter of Farrell dismissed this as merely an impact.”xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx these is due for completion next year. A collection of architects, working with “engineering solution”. Euston, he said, Sir Terry Farrell, Working with TfL connections to the local councils and the scheme gives the opportunity to revamp the Terry Farrells and Partners Northern and Victoria Tube Lines at promoter, are well into the job of station with 10 high speed and 14 Euston would also be improved to cope ensuring that the new high speed rail classic platforms, while also unlocking with the estimated 2% additional network also provides a vital substantial redevelopment potential in passengers using these lines at peak regeneration catalyst as soon as the the area – much as has happened at times as a result of HS2. trains are stationary. nearby St Pancras and King’s Cross. However, due to predicted increased “Every major station will have a Remodelling the Tube station and 250M take up of the it major city-making impact,” Sir Terry creating a new bus and taxi inter- Number of passengers a year is anticipated that such improvements Farrell told NCE in 2010, months before changes, along with a potential expected to use Euston, King’s Cross will be needed even without HS2 in the the then Labour government published connection to HS1 via a dedicated and St Pancras stations same timeframe.

NCE March 2012 14 Special report | High Speed 2 3 | 2012

HS2 Route in Detail Section 1: Euston The Masterplan

Given the on-going it original high speed rail command pedestrian link to St Pancras and King’s paper. Farrell’s priority was to help Cross could, suggests Farrell, create controversy over the government avoid falling foul of poor “Europe’s super-rail hub”. Together the route of HS2 as it planning and missed regeneration three stations could carry over 250M picks its way through opportunities that the UK had perhaps passengers a year – more than double the English landscape, suffered from in the past. the combined current footfall through Farrell and his practice was brought London’s three main airports. it might seem a little into the HS2 scheme early by then The plan would put the platforms premature to be talking transport secretary Lord Adonis and nearly two storeys below ground level, in any great detail with his experience of master-planning which could allow for the introduction about station along the Euston Road corridor in of new streets and public squares central London, offered a vision for a above the concourse level. At Euston development. But new hub at Euston Station that was Road, Farrell’s proposition of a designs for Euston are included in Adonis’s paper. reconstructed Euston Arch at a new crucial. Alex Wynne Until then¸ the new HS2 station was “Every major station will public square would mirror the planned between the HS1 at St Pancras 00% restorations of the facades of St reports. and the adjacent King’s Cross. However, Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxhave major impact” Pancras and King’s Cross, the latter of Farrell dismissed this as merely an Sirxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Terry Farrell, these is due for completion next year. A collection of architects, working with “engineering solution”. Euston, he said, Terry Farrells and Partners Working with TfL connections to the local councils and the scheme gives the opportunity to revamp the Northern and Victoria Tube Lines at promoter, are well into the job of station with 10 high speed and 14 Euston would also be improved to cope ensuring that the new high speed rail classic platforms, while also unlocking with the estimated 2% additional network also provides a vital substantial redevelopment potential in passengers using these lines at peak regeneration catalyst as soon as the the area – much as has happened at times as a result of HS2. trains are stationary. nearby St Pancras and King’s Cross. However, due to predicted increased “Every major station will have a Remodelling the Tube station and 250M take up of the West Coast Main Line it major city-making impact,” Sir Terry creating a new bus and taxi inter- Number of passengers a year is anticipated that such improvements Farrell told NCE in 2010, months before changes, along with a potential expected to use Euston, King’s Cross will be needed even without HS2 in the the then Labour government published connection to HS1 via a dedicated and St Pancras stations same timeframe.

NCE March 2012 14 Special Report | High Speed 2 3 | 2012 IMAGE: TERRY FARRELL ARCHITECTS FARRELL TERRY IMAGE:

Connection to Road transport HS2 Crossrail/ Road transit Willesden interchange interchange Great Western mainline and highway

HS2 route in detail However, as the route meets the transform this part of London. The Chiltern Line at Northolt, HS2 will potential of the area could even rival Section 2: London Metropolitan return into a newly included 4.4km that already seen at . Ruislip tunnel beneath the Central and In fact, Hammersmith and Fulham Chiltern Lines and so reduce disruption council leader Stephen Greenhalgh has in the local area apart from the need already begun describing the north Finding a to construct an access shaft. west London site as “ City Train speed increases to 300km/h International” and says the connectiv- through the Ruislip tunnel, after which ity measures are “phenomenal”. the line emerges to head out of the The plans also include building path out of metropolitan section towards the 20,000 new homes – thanks to the countryside of Hertfordshire. 90ha site being a third railway-owned The fi nal stage in the construction and the remainder being part of an process post tunnelling will be to industrial estate – and could generate transform the Old Oak Common box 10,000 jobs. the capital into a world class station interchange However, Greenhalgh warns that, with Crossrail, HS1 and the Great despite the location, lack of planning Western Main Line – initially providing and vision for the development is still a an interchange to reach Heathrow but threat. Old Oak Common their journey back into Euston and eventually it is planned in later stages “This kind of scale of change then north into the country. to enable a direct rail link to the requires planning, vision and political interchange sits at the Each running tunnel bore will be airport. support,” says Greenhalgh, adding heart of this complex 7.25m internal diameter. Initially A new “super interchange” with a that in the UK is less good at delivering urban section taking heading south, two bores will create a minimum of 14 platforms could create capital projects that interface with one the route out of the city. link back to the Euston terminus and direct links to four airports (Heathrow, another. “Where we fall down is that the third will provide the direct Gatwick, Luton, City), as well as to we tend to operate in silos. People get connection to HS1 as the track joins Crossrail and Great Western Mainline their heads down and deliver their The huge station box at Old Oak into existing overground lines near the and regional links to the North and project. This requires bringing these Common will measure up to 800m Round House at . West London lines as well as the West two capital projects [Crossrail and HS2] long, 60m wide and will sit 30m Trains will eventually speed through Coast Main Line. together.” below ground. Its size dwarfs the the London bores at up to 225km/h. Sir Terry Farrell has, again, been at Greenhalgh says the “a relatively similar facility built at Stratford for HS1 Only two bores will head north out the heart of plans to unlock the modest investment” needed to start and will provide not only the shell of the Old Oak Common station box. potential around this new interchange work on Old Oak Common should be structure for a future station and These will quickly surface and emerge and last year revealed that it had not brought forward before HS2 needs the interchange with Heathrow and into a retained structure to run on a just exceptional transport connections interchange so as to reap some of the Crossrail but also be the launch site for four track network alongside the but also an opportunity for a potential benefi ts as these could be tunnel boring machines as they start London Underground Central Line. mammoth redevelopment to delivered within the decade.

16 NCE March 2012 Special Report | High Speed 2 3 | 2012

SECTION 2: LONDON METROPOLITAN

WORLD CLASS STATION #1 CONSULTATION CHANGE OLD OAK COMMON THREE TUNNELS Final stage in the construction To avoid major works to the Old Oak Common interchange is Two tunnels will create a link process will be to transform the Chiltern Line and impacts on at the heart of this section. The back to the Euston terminus and Old Oak Common box into a local communities in the Ruislip 800m long box will provide not a third will provide the direct world class station interchange area, a 4.4km bored tunnel will only a future station and connect to HS1 as the track joins with Crossrail, HS1 and the Great now be constructed along the interchange with Heathrow and into existing overground lines Western Main Line Northolt Corridor Crossrail but will also be the near the Round House at Chalk launch site for three TBMs Farm

A1 M25 M1 Train speed increases 2 Birmingham to 300km/h through the Ruislip tunnel and routes 300 RUISLIP Train speed km/h HS1, Links North to Europe WEMBLEY #1 M40 NORTHOLT Tunnel SOMETHING HAD TO GIVE! M25 WILSDEN 180 N 250 2 miles 225 St Pancras 5 km Euston RETRAINING STRUCTURE ROUTE LOCATOR Old Oak LONDON North of Old Oak Common station box the three bores Common will emerge into a retained structure to run as a four track Interchange network alongside the London Underground Central Line

To Heathrow

Birmingham HS2 - Post Consultation Route 7.25m 225km/h London Internal diameter of Speed of trains through the tunnel bores London tunnel bores Euston 2 N Chilterns

HS1 HS2 To Euston HS2 - Interchange station Crossrail

CAN WE CHECK THIS IS Wormwood CROSSRAIL AS INDICATED!!!? Scrubs Park

To Birmingham

Visualisation of Old Oak Common Interchange Station

18 IMAGE QUALITY - FILE SUGGESTS THIS IS LOWRES BUT IMAGE IS 12MB !!!! NCE March 2012 Special report | High Speed 2 3 | 2012

HS2 route in detail SECTION 3: COUNTRY SOUTH #7 CONSULTATION CHANGE Section 3: Country South Aston le Walls A longer green tunnel built past Route through Buckinghamshire Chipping Warden and Aston le 360km/h 400km/h 3 has been refined and tweaked Walls, and the route curved Maximum train speed on Design speed of track to future #7 to thread between villages and Edgcote away from a cluster of impor- HS2 with current technology proof design landmarks to reduce overall tant heritage sites around impact of the railway and Consultation Chipping Edgcote. Additional mitigation balance the impact on people Warden Helmdon for Aston le Walls with the environment To Birmingham Interchange and to create a on to Birmingham Greatworth #6 Milton Curzon Street Brackley Keynes M1 M40 GREEN TUNNELS Green tunnel section Buckingham Green tunnels East Coast better route help mitigate Backfill Main line Train speed km/h environmental North Leighton impact by Buzzard VIADUCTS artificially placing Luton TYPICAL Acoustic 360 the line SECTION barriers below ground Dunstable level. Careful design of the route consultation to become a realistic, #5 Precast Weaving HS2 through through the Chilterns AONB will Cutting or cast institu the Buckinghamshire, supportable, scheme. Twyford include a new viaduct at box section Oxfordshire and Of course he is also aware that, for Dean many, any idea of building a new Bicester The Chiltern tunnel will be Northamptonshire railway through the heart of the UK Viaducts will be Train speed km/h driven from the M25 going carefully designed M1 should be resisted. The fact that three north to avoid additional countryside was always to reduce impact groups have already raised the impacts from spoil removal going to be tricky. HS2 on sensitive Ltd’s designers think prospect of legal challenge to the areas of special 360 through the Chilterns St. Albans secretary of state’s decision underlines interest Aylesbury they’ve found the best this view. Wendover Hemel Chilterns As the route emerges from the Yet while Briscoe respects this point #4 Hempstead route. Northolt tunnel it will move of view he is clear that what HS2 Ltd © www.paulweston.info infographic: M40 Stoke Viaduct section onto a spectacular new viaduct has done to date – not least the #3 Mandeville Little across the environmentally Plotting a route for HS2 between numerous major post consultation M25 #6 CONSULTATION CHANGE #5 CONSULTATION CHANGE Missenden sensitive Colne Valley SSSI. The NEED WRITE TO FIT London and the West Midlands has changes to the planned route in Dramatic lowering of the The route has be realigned to be viaduct will be designed to meet M40 been challenging at every point along response to public concern - meets his alignment and introduction of further away from Twyford. This Green tunnel section local and national environmenM1 - the route. But the Country South need to be open, fair and consultative. a green tunnel at Greatworth will assist mitigating impacts by 360 tal and heritage standards section, as the route leaves London In fact, seven of the 13 major plus a short green tunnel at making land available between and heads into the heart of the English changes ordered by the secretary of Turweston will help mitigate HS2 and the village for land- Wendover Amersham Oxford countryside, has been without state are on the Country South section. landscape, noise and visual scaped earthworks to reduce Dean question the most challenging. “We believe that if you are going to impacts as well as remove noise and visual impacts; Chilterns #2 For HS2 Ltd non-executive chairman build a railway between London and the need for a viaduct 320 M25 Viaduct section Sir Brian Briscoe, the current route, Birmingham in response to a national To while perhaps not completely fi nalised, capacity problem and provide Euston ROUTE LOCATOR High Wycombe 300 certainly marks the end of a three year economic benefi ts, then this is the best ROUTE LOCATOR M40 13km continuousBeaconsfield Gerrards roller coaster ride to bring a collection route,” he says. “It remains to be seen Cross of outline designs through public what the grounds are for any judicial tunnel section to avoid HS2 - Post Chiltern AONB M40 RUISLIP Consultation Route 5 4 N 5 km LONDON 5 miles Birmingham HS2 - Post #4 CONSULTATION CHANGE #3 CONSULTATION CHANGE #2 CONSULTATION CHANGE 3 Consultation Route Lower the route past Aylesbury A longer green tunnel will be The originally planned 7km and and to reduce constructed to reduce impacts 3km tunnels through the local impacts and the need for around Wendover, and the Chilterns AONB will be joined London larger scale works to local roads green tunnel at South Heath will with an extra 3km central and the Chiltern Line be extended to reduce noise section to create a continuous Euston and visual impact tunnel from Little Missenden to the M25 to reducing the need N ChilternsChilterns 2 1 for deep cutting Colne Valley viaduct: Sensitive design will deliver a spectacular structure

20 NCE March 2012 Special report | High Speed 2 3 | 2012

SECTION 3: COUNTRY SOUTH #7 CONSULTATION CHANGE Aston le Walls A longer green tunnel built past Route through Buckinghamshire Chipping Warden and Aston le 360km/h 400km/h 3 has been refined and tweaked Walls, and the route curved Maximum train speed on Design speed of track to future #7 to thread between villages and Edgcote away from a cluster of impor- HS2 with current technology proof design landmarks to reduce overall tant heritage sites around impact of the railway and Chipping Edgcote. Additional mitigation balance the impact on people Warden Helmdon for Aston le Walls with the environment To Birmingham Interchange and on to Birmingham Greatworth #6 Milton Curzon Street Brackley Keynes M1 Green tunnel: HS1 set the standard M40 GREEN TUNNELS Green tunnel section Buckingham Green tunnels East Coast Turweston help mitigate Backfill Main line “If you’re going to build a Train speed km/h environmental North Leighton railway between London impact by Buzzard VIADUCTS artificially placing Luton and Birmingham this is the TYPICAL Acoustic 360 the line best route” SECTION barriers below ground Dunstable Sir Brian Briscoe, HS2 Ltd level. #5 Careful design of the route Precast through the Chilterns AONB will Cutting or cast institu Twyford include a new viaduct at box section Wendover Dean review. It is their opportunity as citizens Bicester The Chiltern tunnel will be to resist it but I am hoping that they Viaducts will be Train speed km/h driven from the M25 going won’t delay our programme.” carefully designed M1 north to avoid additional As the route emerges from London to reduce impact impacts from spoil removal and the Northolt tunnel it will move on sensitive areas of special 360 through the Chilterns St. Albans onto a spectacular, carefully designed, interest Aylesbury viaduct across the sensitive Colne Wendover Hemel Valley Site of Special Scientifi c Interest. Chilterns As the route emerges from the #4 Hempstead The originally planned 7km and Northolt tunnel it will move infographic: © www.paulweston.info infographic: M40 3km tunnels through the Chilterns Stoke Viaduct section onto a spectacular new viaduct #3 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Mandeville Little across the environmentally M25 will also now become a single 13km #6 CONSULTATION CHANGE #5 CONSULTATION CHANGE Missenden sensitive Colne Valley SSSI. The NEED WRITE TO FIT Dramatic lowering of the The route has be realigned to be viaduct will be designed to meet tunnel from Little Missenden to the M40 alignment and introduction of further away from Twyford. This Green tunnel section local and national environmenM1 - M25, with a new viaduct added at a green tunnel at Greatworth will assist mitigating impacts by 360 tal and heritage standards Wendover Dean. plus a short green tunnel at making land available between Careful design changes and the use Turweston will help mitigate HS2 and the village for land- Wendover Amersham of green tunnels will mitigate the Oxford landscape, noise and visual scaped earthworks to reduce Dean impact of the route around Wendover, impacts as well as remove noise and visual impacts; Chilterns #2 South Heath, past Aylesbury and Stoke the need for a viaduct 320 M25 Mandeville in Buckinghamshire and Viaduct section To the route has been tweaked to thread Euston between villages and landmarks. High Wycombe 300 ROUTE LOCATOR M40 Additional tunnelling will also be 13km continuousBeaconsfield Gerrards Cross introduced to lessen the impact on tunnel section to avoid villagers at Greatworth and Turweston Chiltern AONB M40 RUISLIP and past Chipping Warden and Aston 5 4 le Walls. Realignement of the route 5 km LONDON N will also mitigate the impact on 5 miles important heritage sites around Birmingham HS2 - Post #4 CONSULTATION CHANGE #3 CONSULTATION CHANGE #2 CONSULTATION CHANGE Edgcote. 3 Consultation Route Lower the route past Aylesbury A longer green tunnel will be The originally planned 7km and and Stoke Mandeville to reduce constructed to reduce impacts 3km tunnels through the local impacts and the need for around Wendover, and the Chilterns AONB will be joined London larger scale works to local roads green tunnel at South Heath will with an extra 3km central and the Chiltern Line be extended to reduce noise section to create a continuous Euston and visual impact tunnel from Little Missenden to £1.4bn the M25 to reducing the need N Chilterns 2 1 for deep cutting Cost of tunnelling work on phase 1 of HS2, London to the West Midlands.

NCE March 2012 21 NEED WRITE TO FIT

SECTION 4: COUNTRY NORTH 220 #13 PRESS IMAGE. I THINK RELATES TO CHANGE #13 #12 CONSULTATION CHANGE #11 CONSULTATION CHANGE #10 CONSULTATION CHANGE Special report | High Speed 2 RE OVER THE TRENT MERSEY CANAL 3 | 2012 slowing to Middleton #12 Move the route slightly further Improve the mitigation of A shallower cutting and longer 220km/hr on WCML away from Middleton. The impacts on Balsall Common green tunnel will be built at changes to the scheme in by moving the line further away Burton Green. Changes here Train Speed km/h 300 this area will result in fewer from the community and include mitigating local impacts demolitions and reduced lowering the height of the and reducing spoil generation, noise impacts viaduct whilst still shielding the visual Birmingham impact of the trains Section 4 – Country North - WORDS/NOTES OVER

OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPRESSIONS OF THE VIADUCT M69 M6 A new delta junction will be constructed to spur trains off the main high #13 CONSULTATION CHANGE Birmingham speed line towards Birmingham after the new Birmingham Interchange Interchange The use of green tunnel at Burton Green station. This junction will be largely constructed on viaduct and also enable Increase the clearance of HS2 M1 over the Trent and Mersey Canal provides the opportunity to reconnect services to travel north from Birmingham toward to WCML. the village for the first time since a rail near Lichfield. The change keeps line severed the village a century ago Integrated infrastructure: The new high speed rail 360 line has been carefully designed to weave through the canal navigable and would Rugby OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPRESSIONS OF THE DELTA the communities and existing infrastructure, such as the Trent and Mersey Canal at Lichfi eld slightly improve flood manage- Coventry #11 ment but will result in margin- To accommodate this change the design line speed had to be reduced to HS2 route in detail By listening to and ham toward the WCML. Section 4: Country North working with local The line passes through the new 350km/hr between the delta junction into Birmingham and the reconnec- Birmingham Interchange station near ally more noise and visual #10 communities, Balsall the airport but design and construction impacts. tion to the West Coast Mainline. Trains will typically travel initially at engineers have tried of this facility is included in the fi nal #8 CONSULTATION CHANGE to plot a route through Birmingham Metropolitan section of Common 300km/hr maximum through this stretch before slowing to 220km/hr on Warwickshire towards the route (see page 26). Plotting a Birmingham which Given that the route picks its way #9 A longer bored tunnel will be around numerous villages and small M42 Burton Green Kenilworth WCML. minimises the towns, the extensive public consulta- constructed at environmental impact. tion process threw up many issues of path through local concern and prompted the secretary of state to include six major Wood to reduce land take, The Country North section of HS2 takes consultation changes to tweak the N the new high speed rail line up to and horizontal and vertical alignment. noise, landscape and visual the Midlands beyond the spur into Birmingham and Additional lengths of bored tunnel 5km unites the fi rst phase of the line back have been added such as that to be into the West Coast Main Line (WCML) constructed at Long Itchington Wood, impacts significantly at Lichfi eld. to reduce land take, noise, landscape 5 miles Royal landscape This section of HS2 includes a huge and visual impacts. new delta junction to the east of Cut and cover – so-called “green Birmingham constructed to spur trains tunnels” – will also be used to hide the Leamington Spa Viaduct section off the main high speed line towards route in sensitive locations such as at the city. This junction will be largely the village of Burton Green, where the ROUTE LOCATOR IF WE COULD MINIMISE THE constructed on viaduct and also enable village will be reconnected for the fi rst services to travel north from Birming- time since the now disused railway line #8 CINSULTATION CHNAGE BOXES Southam WE COULD MAYBE MAKE ROOM 22 NCE March 2012 Long FOR BOXES SHOWING THE DELTA 4 Itchington AND THE CANAL CROSSING IF WE Wood CAN GET HOLD OF ...

#9 CONSULTATION CHANGE 360 Train Speed km/h HS2 - Post The route will now avoid Birmingham Consultation Route Kenilworth Golf Club and be lowered further through the London National Agricultural Centre. A narrower, retained cutting Euston through South Cubbington M40 To London Wood will help mitigate the Euston N Chilterns impacts

NEED WRITE TO FIT Special report | High Speed 2 3 | 2012

NEED WRITE TO FIT

SECTION 4: COUNTRY NORTH 220 #13 PRESS IMAGE. I THINK RELATES TO CHANGE #13 #12 CONSULTATION CHANGE #11 CONSULTATION CHANGE #10 CONSULTATION CHANGE RE OVER THE TRENT MERSEY CANAL slowing to Middleton #12 Move the route slightly further Improve the mitigation of A shallower cutting and longer 220km/hr on WCML away from Middleton. The impacts on Balsall Common green tunnel will be built at changes to the scheme in by moving the line further away Burton Green. Changes here Train Speed km/h 300 this area will result in fewer from the community and include mitigating local impacts demolitions and reduced lowering the height of the and reducing spoil generation, noise impacts viaduct whilst still shielding the visual Birmingham impact of the trains Section 4 – Country North - WORDS/NOTES OVER

OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPRESSIONS OF THE VIADUCT M69 M6 A new delta junction will be constructed to spur trains off the main high #13 CONSULTATION CHANGE Birmingham speed line towards Birmingham after the new Birmingham Interchange Interchange The use of green tunnel at Burton Green station. This junction will be largely constructed on viaduct and also enable Increase the clearance of HS2 M1 over the Trent and Mersey Canal provides the opportunity to reconnect services to travel north from Birmingham toward to WCML. the village for the first time since a rail near Lichfield. The change keeps 360 line severed the village a century ago the canal navigable and would Rugby OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPRESSIONS OF THE DELTA slightly improve flood manage- Coventry ment but will result in margin- #11 To accommodate this change the design line speed had to be reduced to ally more noise and visual #10 350km/hr between the delta junction into Birmingham and the reconnec- impacts. Balsall tion to the West Coast Mainline. Trains will typically travel initially at Common #8 CONSULTATION CHANGE 300km/hr maximum through this stretch before slowing to 220km/hr on A longer bored tunnel will be M42 Burton Green Kenilworth #9 WCML. constructed at Long Itchington Wood to reduce land take, N Cubbington noise, landscape and visual 5km impacts significantly 5 miles Royal Leamington Spa Viaduct section ROUTE LOCATOR IF WE COULD MINIMISE THE #8 CINSULTATION CHNAGE BOXES Southam WE COULD MAYBE MAKE ROOM Long FOR BOXES SHOWING THE DELTA 4 Itchington AND THE CANAL CROSSING IF WE Wood CAN GET HOLD OF ...

#9 CONSULTATION CHANGE 360 Train Speed km/h HS2 - Post The route will now avoid Birmingham Consultation Route Kenilworth Golf Club and be lowered further through the London National Agricultural Centre. A narrower, retained cutting Euston through South Cubbington M40 To London Wood will help mitigate the Euston N Chilterns impacts

severed the village a century ago. impacts and viaduct heights NEED WRITE TO FIT the existing WCML, engineers have At Kenilworth the route alignment reduced where possible to shield At Kenilworth, the route tweaked the alignment to increase the has also been lowered through the views. clearance over the Trent and Mersey sensitive National Agricultural Centre Around the village of Middleton alignment has been lowered Canal near Lichfi eld. and a narrower, retained cutting built tighter curves were added to the through the sensitive However, while there are local and through South Cubbington Wood to alignment to reduce noise impacts. National Agricultural Centre fl ood management benefi ts from this mitigate impact and save a Grade II This change meant the design line and a narrower retained change it does increase the visual listed farmhouse. speed had to be reduced to 350km/h impact of the scheme. Elsewhere innovative and careful between the delta junction into cutting built to mitigate As a result, HS2 Ltd will now design using shallower cuttings has Birmingham and the reconnection to impact and save a Grade II continue to work on ways to mitigate been introduced to help to shield local the WCML. listed farmhouse this visual impact. populations from visual and noise Finally, as the new line approaches

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HS2 route in detail CONNECTION TO NORTH SECTION 5: ROUTE INTO BIRMINGHAM 220 Section 5: Birmingham Metropolitan The route after the delta Connecting to When phase 2 of HS2 is open in BIRMINGHAM METROPOLITAN junction travels into the east side Manchester 2032, high speed trains will also of Birmingham in the shadow of and Liverpool serve Leeds and Manchester and the . It will require on WCML onto the North East, North West INFO and Scotland via the existing ERDINGTON substantial change to the road Train speed km/h 300 and motorway network and so network at conventional speeds. Speeding into include a number of tricky engineering challenges M42 NEEDS HIRES CASTLE WATER the heart of the VALE 200 ORTON 230

Viaduct section over floodplain metropolis M6 Visualisation of The Curzon Street station terminus 170

M6 WARD END The fi nal section of HS2 the heart of the long awaited major 100 Train speed km/h KINGHURST phase 1 takes the route regeneration project plan for the entire ASTON Train speed km/h 300 east side of Birmingham. It will require at speed into the heart substantial changes to the local and Viaduct section into Curzon Street STECHFORD of Birmingham on a wider area but create the springboard Possible new Washwood M6 for major redevelopment. dedicated spur to a Heath Depot According to Glenn Howells Birmingham CHEMSLEY brand new terminal at Snow Hill Architects director Dav Bansal, the WOOD M42 Curzon Street. Station ability to overlay the station on CURZON STREET 80 multiple development projects is the The Curzon Street station terminus Curzon From the new HS2 delta junction west crucial element in making Curzon is the heart of major regeneration Street of Birmingham, the spur line will head Street a success. project plan for the entire east side Station NEEDS HIRES in and out of the city under the route of His practice has been working on of Birmingham. It will require Birmingham the M6 motorway and along existing the Eastside for the past substantial engineering and design Interchange rail corridors. Built largely on viaduct, two years. The masterplan spans changes to the local and wider the high speed line rushes to the 800ha and aims to take advantage of Birmingham area an so create the springboard 320 Moor Street eastern quarter of the city to a new for major redevelopment National Station purpose built terminal at Curzon Street. Exhibition Birmingham Despite using existing transport Visualisation of the Birmingham Interchange station Centre New Street corridors, the route through the urban “Shifting the gravitas of the Station 1 km area of Birmingham will require city eastwards gives BIRMINGHAM WELLS GREEN substantial change to the road and Birmingham much needed N 1 miles motorway network and so include a M42 number of engineering challenges to sense of place” weave a route and structures through Dav Bansal, Glenn Howells ROUTE LOCATOR Birmingham People existing infrastructure. Associates International mover London The Curzon Street station terminus is Airport Crossrail Interchange 5 and Euston HS2 - Post Consultation Route BIRMINGHAM INTERCHANGE AIRPORT INTERCHANGE Birmingham 36%-46% The Birmingham Interchange The Birmingham Interchange station on the HS2 mainline is station is alongside Birmingham Anticipated growth in rail included in this section of work. Airport. It is expected that its London demand by 2030, according to The new interchange will enable proximity to the airport will NEEDS WRITE government’s latest Command passengers to switch trains to offer opportunities for TO FIT Euston Paper head either into Birmingham or additional inter- north to Manchester and Leeds airport connections between N Chilterns London and Birmingham Speed delta: The Birmingham spur peels off HS2 at a new delta junction

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the benefi ts of HS2 in Birmingham to SECTION 5: ROUTE INTO BIRMINGHAM CONNECTION TO NORTH expand the city’s core with a 220 When phase 2 of HS2 is open in The route after the delta Connecting to combination of public spaces, cultural BIRMINGHAM METROPOLITAN 2032, high speed trains will also junction travels into the east side Manchester institutions, and educational and Liverpool serve Leeds and Manchester and of Birmingham in the shadow of establishments. the M6 motorway. It will require on WCML onto the North East, North West INFO “Some 50% of the Eastside substantial change to the road and Scotland via the existing ERDINGTON Train speed km/h 300 masterplan is already being devel- and motorway network and so network at conventional speeds. oped,” says Bansal, pointing to the fi rst include a number of tricky engineering challenges phase, which includes Birmingham M42 City University’s new Eastside campus. NEEDS HIRES By expanding transport links, he says, CASTLE WATER the “gravitas of the city” will move VALE 200 ORTON eastwards and give the Eastside a 230 much needed “strong sense of place”. In addition, a Curzon Street station Viaduct section over and the adjacent Eastside masterplan floodplain M6 helps deal with city’s diffi cult transport Visualisation of The Curzon Street station terminus interchanges and Bansal has also been 170 CASTLE BROMWICH working on plans for better connec- tions between the city’s Moor Street and New Street railway stations. M6 WARD END “Birmingham has got to work 100 Train speed km/h KINGHURST better on its own infrastructure long ASTON Train speed km/h 300 before HS2,” says Bansal. “There’s a lot of work to do before it knits into the Viaduct section rest of the transport connections.” In into Curzon Street STECHFORD all, these plans can incorporate metro, Possible new Washwood M6 bus, pedestrian, vehicle Heath Depot Birmingham CHEMSLEY and even car accessibility in the city. Snow Hill WOOD M42 The addition of a new station at Station CURZON STREET Birmingham Airport and the National 80 The Curzon Street station terminus Exhibition Centre completes this Curzon is the heart of major regeneration transport strategy. Although sited Street project plan for the entire east side outside the metropolitan section of the Station NEEDS HIRES of Birmingham. It will require Birmingham route, the Birmingham Interchange substantial engineering and design Interchange station on the HS2 mainline is included changes to the local and wider in this section of work. Birmingham area an so create the springboard 320 The new interchange will enable Moor Street for major redevelopment National passengers to switch trains to head Station Exhibition either into Birmingham or on-ward Birmingham Visualisation of the Birmingham Interchange station Centre north to Manchester and Leeds. New Street However it will also provide links with Station 1 km BIRMINGHAM WELLS GREEN Birmingham International Airport and N 1 miles the National Exhibition Centre and so M42 become the focus for development in the area. ROUTE LOCATOR OLTON Birmingham People International mover London Airport Crossrail Interchange “There’s a lot of work to do 5 and Euston before HS2 knits into the SOLIHULL BICKENHILL HS2 - Post rest of Birmingham’s Consultation Route transport connections” BIRMINGHAM INTERCHANGE AIRPORT INTERCHANGE Dav Bansal, Birmingham 36%-46% The Birmingham Interchange The Birmingham Interchange Glen Howells Associates station on the HS2 mainline is station is alongside Birmingham Anticipated growth in rail included in this section of work. Airport. It is expected that its London demand by 2030, according to The new interchange will enable proximity to the airport will NEEDS WRITE government’s latest Command passengers to switch trains to offer opportunities for TO FIT Euston Paper head either into Birmingham or additional inter- north to Manchester and Leeds airport connections between 800ha N Chilterns London and Birmingham Size of Birmingham’s eastern quarter regeneration area opened up by HS2

NCE March 2012 27 Special Report | High Speed 2 3 | 2012

High speed ambition

Profile By Antony Oliver

Sir Brian Briscoe hands and Keith Berryman, who led the over chairmanship of hybrid bill process for Crossrail. The aim, explains Briscoe was to learn HS2 Ltd to Douglas lessons the easy way. Oakervee next month Yet after two years in the driving after two years seat, Briscoe is now clear that he needs bringing the project to to hand over to a new chairman, as the project moves into its new phase. life. His final task has been to mastermind the morphing of HS2 Ltd When secretary of state Justine into a credible and effective body that secretary has considered our report.” Greening announced in January that is capable of driving the project “We are there to get the best Across the whole project Briscoe is the government was to press ahead through the hybrid bill planning stage job done - to make it the wedded to the need for HS2 to with plans for a new high speed rail and ready to start construction. finest railway ever built” develop the design with local network it was certainly a major “It is a very tight timescale and there communities and understands that political achievement for the project. is a lot of work to do,” he says. There Sir Brian Briscoe, HS2 Ltd while the route has been optimised, Because, as HS2 Ltd non-executive are 140 miles of railway and every bit there is work to do in every location to chairman Sir Brian Briscoe points out, of land has to be referenced and the refine the mitigation treatment. when he took over the role from Sir design finalised. We have to talk with a “The principle has been decided – This means detailed engineering David Rowlands in 2010, political large number of people along the we are now there to get the best job studies, environmental assessment support for such an ambitious, route and produce material to submit done locally and to demonstrate that work, referencing all the land and controversial and expensive project the hybrid bill by the end of 2013.” this railway can be engineered and identifying what will be needed. To aid was pretty thin on the ground. Briscoe has a huge amount of landscaped to make it the finest ever this process HS2 Ltd has set up “Getting this project off the ground first-hand experience of the consulta- built, anywhere,” he explains. community forums to tap into the local has been the most remarkable thing tion process from his days at Kent The London to West Midlands knowledge and ensure that the actual over the last three years,” he says. County Council during the planning section is, of course, just the start of railway reflects what was promised. “High speed rail was not the stages for HS1. His experience was that the UK’s high speed rail ambition and “Local people are entitled to try to conventional wisdom back in 2009.” there was eventually engagement to in response to Greening’s request, get the best out of the consultation. The pace has picked up and the ensure that the treatment was what Briscoe has been leading a parallel We think we have demonstrated that challenge recently has been to gear up the locals thought was best. process to look at the so-called “Y” we have listened and we will go on as soon as the secretary of state gave “ and Union Railways extension to Manchester and Leeds. talking to people,” he says, pointing the go ahead, he explains. stumbled into a very difficult situation “We are at the stage for [the second out that as a result of the consultation “We have done this and you now in Kent and found a way out by talking section] that we were at for the numerous major amendments were see the evidence of a company getting to people,” he says. “We have learnt London to West Midlands in 2009/10 made, including new tunnelled into position to do a large amount of from that and started talks a long time when we had reported at a level of sections, to meet the needs of locals. work in a relatively short time.” ago. That’s not to say that everybody in generalised detail,” he explains “This is about building the right The appointment this week of Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire and pointing out that a report goes to railway and then dealing with the former Crossrail boss and major Camden is necessarily ready to support Greening in March advising on options. consequences in the right and most projects delivery veteran Douglas proposals but hopefully they will be “Justine Greening has to decide appropriate way,” he adds. “I would Oakervee, underlines HS2 Ltd’s desire ready to engage.” what she wants to do and then hold a like all interest groups to work in to strengthen its major project skills However, he is clear that now the consultation,” he adds. “So although partnership with HS2 Ltd to deliver the and experience. Already a number of secretary of state has made a decision government has said that high speed right mitigation. Just giving people very experienced people have been to go ahead, consultation is no longer rail to Manchester and Leeds is the money in compensation is not right. brought in such as Mark Bayley, former about whether to build a railway. Now right thing, we need to consult. And People who are affected need to be chief executive of High Speed 1 (HS1) it is about how best to build it. that won’t happen until the transport treated properly. “

28 NCE March 2012