Bidding for £2.75Bn contract to design, build and maintain HS2 launched

Official start of bidding for £2.75Bn contract to design, build and maintain high speed trains launched by HS2 Ltd.

The competition has official begun for the £2.75Bn contract to design, build and maintain Britain’s next generation of high speed trains.

Whoever wins the contract will be responsible for developing around 60 state of the art trains to transport passengers across the country on the new high speed rail network and onto the existing railway.

The contract will create hundreds  of jobs, as well as HS2 working with companies and suppliers to create opportunities for SME’s, boost skills and encourage a variety of people to join the workforce.

In total 25,000 jobs and 2,000 apprenticeships will be created during HS2 construction and HS2 Ltd has held discussions with UK-based suppliers to make sure they are in the best possible position to win contracts.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Britain’s new railway will carry over 300,000 people a day, improve connections between our great cities, free up space on our existing rail lines, generate jobs and help us build an economy that works for all. But what will make HS2’s reputation from day one will be its trains.

“It is a given that we want the trains to be comfortable, reliable and a pleasure to use, meeting the highest standards internationally for passenger experience, noise reduction, and environmental sustainability. But companies interested in bidding for the train contract need to push the boundaries. We want to see innovation, creativity and ambition.

“The construction of these trains will also leave a legacy for this country, boosting skills, generating employment and strengthening the manufacturing supply chain.”

HS2 Ltd Managing Director of Rail Operations Chris Rayner said: “HS2 represents a once in a lifetime chance to rebalance the national economy. It will transform travel in this country, connecting eight of the 10 largest cities in the UK when completed, as well as improving capacity for customers and productivity for the economy.

“The priorities and needs of our future passengers are at the centre of our thinking. Quite simply we want every aspect of travelling by HS2 to exceed expectations – from the passenger experience in selecting their journey and getting information, to travelling through our stations, to the train ride itself. We challenge bidders to achieve this ambition.”

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