Construction bids invited for HS2 stations 14 Sep 2017

Work to transform Euston station into a gateway to the capital and create a new transport hub at Old Oak Common ready for the arrival of HS2 is progressing with invitations to tender for construction of the two London stations.

Artist's impression of the HS2 station at Euston

The investments at Euston and Old Oak Common are expected to provide 79,000 jobs and 29,000 homes around the stations, attracting businesses and housing developers to what will be two of the best connected locations in the UK.

“The launch of the search for construction teams to build the southern HS2 stations is a major step towards making Britain’s new railway a catalyst for growth across the country. And next year HS2 Ltd will begin the hunt for companies to build the two Birmingham stations,” said Paul Maynard, Transport Minister. “The winning bidders will need to ensure that the stations provide the best possible customer experience. There will be exciting opportunities for development around HS2 station sites in London, the West Midlands, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and the East Midlands, unlocking huge opportunities for new jobs, homes and economic growth.”

“Launching this competition is another milestone for HS2. Over the next decade, the successful bidders will build two of the most challenging and high profile elements of the project, a new transport hub at Old Oak Common to kick-start the regeneration of the site and a major expansion of Euston,” said Mark Thurston, HS2 Chief Executive. “We are looking for companies that share our commitment to safety, efficiency, environmental protection and value for money. Together we will create two iconic stations, gateways to the capital and the nation that local communities and the travelling public can be proud to call their own.”

Working with HS2 Ltd and the Euston and Old Oak Common designers, the successful bidders will act as construction partners, responsible for programme management as well as procuring, integrating and managing the complex supply chains. It is hoped that about 4,000 jobs will be supported during construction of the two stations, and 700 during operation.

At Old Oak Common, the new transport hub will have some of the best connections anywhere on the network including direct HS2 services to destinations like Liverpool, the North West, Glasgow and Edinburgh. New platforms will also allow passengers to connect to Crossrail for Heathrow and the City of London, and to join services to Wales and the West of England. The transformation of the former railway sidings and light industrial zone is being led by the Mayor of London’s Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, which aims to create a thriving new community with up to 65,000 jobs and 25,500 new homes.

At Euston, eleven new platforms, built in two phases, will nearly triple capacity, improving journeys and providing the opportunity for sustainable mixed use development on the site which could support up to 14,000 new jobs and almost 4,000 new homes. The staged approach to building the high speed terminus means existing services can continue to operate, reducing both disruption for passengers and the effects on the community as a whole.

The HS2 Birmingham stations are expected to provide about 52,000 jobs and 6,000 new homes, and bidders will be invited to tender in 2018, with all the new stations ready to welcome their first passengers in 2026.

HS2 services will eventually connect over 25 destinations and 30 million people across the UK. Trains will serve existing city centre stations in places like Glasgow and Liverpool, and new purpose built stations in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, and the East Midlands.

HS2 will improve journeys for long-distance travellers and create extra capacity for commuters travelling into London from places like Milton Keynes and Northampton. It will also revamp and expand the London Underground station, combining Euston and Euston Square into one station for the first time and providing a new ticket hall and provision for a potential connection to Crossrail 2.

Bidders for both contracts are expected to be invited to tender by the end of the year, with contract award in autumn 2018. Market engagement has already begun for the Birmingham stations and the procurement process is expected to begin early next year with contract award in 2020.