HS2 Ltd has confirmed the three bidders shortlisted to build the British high-speed rail project’s network control centre and rolling stock maintenance depot in Washwood Heath, near Birmingham.
The companies shortlisted are:
• Gülermak A ğir San İnşaat Ve Taah and Gulermak
• Vinci Construction UK and Keltbray
• VolkerFitzpatrick and VolkerRail
The contract, worth an estimated £275m, is expected to be awarded in 2023. It will include a maintenance shed, carriage washer, automatic vehicle inspection building and 14 sidings.
Also on site will be the Network Integrated Control Centre, which will be the hub for the HS2 network’s signalling and control systems, as well as office building for cleaners and drivers.
HS2 Ltd says it’s expected around 500 jobs will be based at the depot and control centre.
The site was previously home to the Alstom railway works that closed in 2004 and was demolished last year.
A fleet of at least 54 trains for Phase 1 and 2a of the new line will be based at the depot. The 200m trains will be able to operate on both the new and existing infrastructure.
Five companies were shortlisted for £2.75bn train contract (Alstom, CAF, Siemens, Talgo and a Bombardier/Hitachi joint venture), which was due to have been awarded in late-2019, and which has been the subject of legal challenges already by Siemens and Talgo. The contract is expected to be announced in October.
