HS2 Train Depot and Network Control Centre Builder Shortlist Announced

HS2 has confirmed the shortlist of bidders to build its control centre and rolling stock maintenance depot at Washwood Heath.

These are Gulermak Agir Sanayi Insaat ve Taahhut AS and Gulermak Sp z o.o, VINCI Construction UK (trading as Taylor Woodrow) and Keltbray, and VolkerFitzpatrick and VolkerRail.

Washwood Heath construction site
Washwood Heath construction site

The contract, worth an estimated 275 million GBP (321.25m euros | 380.09m USD), will see the winning bidder work with HS2 to transform the 30-hectare brown field site into the nerve centre of the HS2 high-speed rail network.

HS2’s fleet of state-of-the-art high-speed trains will be serviced and maintained 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from the Washwood Heath site.

The depot will include a rolling stock maintenance building, carriage wash, automatic vehicle inspection building and 14 sidings where trains can be stored overnight.

The network integrated control centre, will also be on the same site, along with office buildings for cleaners and drivers.

Andrew Cubitt, HS2 Procurement and Supply Chain Director, said:

“HS2 will transform rail travel across the UK as a brand-new north-south railway offering passengers fast, reliable, low carbon journeys between many of Britain’s largest cities.

“Washwood Heath will be at the heart of the operation – servicing and maintaining the trains as well as controlling the operations. The site will also be a major boost for the local community, with around 500 long-term jobs set to be created at the site and extra land freed up for development. That’s why it’s great to see such a strong shortlist for the design and construction.”

The Washwood Heath site was formerly home to the disused Metro-Cammell railway works which closed in 2004. A team from HS2’s enabling works contractor LM (Laing Murphy), completed the demolition of the buildings on the site last year, ready for the start of construction.

Once operational, Phase One and 2a will have a fleet of at least 54 trains that will be based at Washwood Heath.

These 200 metre long units can be doubled up to create 400m long trains and will serve destinations beyond the HS2 network, such as Liverpool, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow, via a connection to the existing West Coast Main Line at Crewe.

Contracts are expected to be awarded in 2023.

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