A team comprising CH2M, Atkins and SENER have been appointed as the engineering delivery partner for Phase 1 of the high-speed line project.
The delivery partner will provide engineering and construction management support, and assist with preparations for the procurement of the main civils contracts.
According to an HS2 press release, it will be “fully integrated within HS2 Ltd in order to drive long-term efficiencies across the design and build process”.
Covering the whole of Phase 1 construction, the 10-year contract will also see the consultancies providing support for the procurement of subsequent work packages, including stations and railway systems. They will also support the design and construction stages of the works, providing project engineering and construction management as well as technical assurance of design.
All three companies have significant experience of driving project innovation and efficiency, with CH2M and Atkins involved in London’s Crossrail project, and SENER bringing recent experience from Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network.
The unsuccessful bidders were a Bechtel/Jacobs/Idom Merebrook joint venture, and a tie-up between Parsons Brinckerhoff and Ramboll UK.
Commenting on the appointment, transport minister Robert Goodwill said: “The engineering delivery partner will play a key role in bringing HS2 to fruition and CH2M/Atkins/SENER bring clear expertise. Today’s announcement means we are one step closer to getting spades in the ground next year for this transformational project.”
Employee-owned CH2M is already working on Crossrail, the Thames Tideway Tunnel, and the decommissioning of Dounreay. It was a leading partner in CLM, delivery partner to the ODA for the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.
Atkins is currently working on major UK rail projects include Crossrail, Birmingham New Street Station, East West Rail and the Stafford Area Improvements Programme.
SENER is a Spanish firm with operations spanning the defence and space sector as well as the high-speed rail sector.
It is also involved in the Californian High-Speed Rail network, as well as the high-speed rail connection Spain and France.
