Alternatives on the table to UK’s HS2 Eastern Leg
An under-reported study has emerged proposing several strategic alternatives to the HS2 Phase 2b Eastern Leg – the contentiously cancelled project in the UK government Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (IRP). An...Read more
HS2 controversial progress towards Manchester may displace Network Rail
The company formed to build Britain’s high speed rail network has acquired a second major development site in central Manchester. The purchases are said to pave the way for the development of the dedicated HS2...Read more
Does HS2 threaten the future of Britain’s tilting trains?
UK passenger operator Avanti West Coast is putting its Pendolino tilting train fleet refurbishment into full swing with the release of the first upgraded sets into revenue-earning service. With HS2 on the horizon, where does...Read more
New UK bridge over doubled railway is music to the ears of rail planners
An impressive new bridge, carrying tracks over the route of the HS2 project, is going down a song in the West Midlands of England. Rail freight planners will have a headache for a few weeks,...Read more
Boris Johnson reiterates promise to bring HS2 to Leeds
UK prime minister Boris Johnson over the weekend reiterated his earlier promise to bring HS2 trains to Leeds. In comments to a local newspaper, the PM said is was a matter of “when, not if”.Read more
First stage of excavating the HS2 Chiltern tunnels completed
Two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) excavating HS2’s longest tunnel have completed the first stage. The first section from the Chiltern tunnel’s south portal to the first ventilation shaft are finished.Read more
HS2 unveils updated designs for London Euston station
HS2 on Wednesday published new images of the future London Euston station. The updated designs are a marked departure from the ones first released in 2015, as the station can now be built in a...Read more
Major HS2 construction packages up for grabs this month
The joint venture between construction firms Mace and Dragados, HS2’s construction partner for London’s Euston station, will be inviting bids on construction packages with a combined value of more than 500 million pounds (598 million...Read more
Northern mayors call on UK govt to reassess Integrated Rail Plan
The mayors of Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, North of Tyne and South Yorkshire have put out a joint statement, calling on the government to start a new assessment process of the...Read more
HS2’s next stop will be Manchester
Britain’s HS2 high-speed rail project will be debated in parliament shortly. A proposal has been laid before the House of Commons, the start of the official procedure for finalising the project into an Act of...Read moreHitachi/Alstom to build 52 high speed trains for HS2
The HS2 project organization has announced that the Hitachi/Alstom JV consortium has been awarded the contract for the construction of 54 new high-speed trains. The contracts are worth approximately two billion British pounds (2.6 billion...Read more
North of England the big loser in cancellation of HS2 plans
The worst kept secret in Britain is finally out. The high speed rail network, planned for the north east of England is officially scrapped. The transport secretary Grant Shapps made the announcement to the House...Read more
Eastern leg HS2 to Leeds to be cancelled
The extension of the HS2 high-speed line from the Midlands and Leeds will be scrapped. Sources in in the government have said this to the BBC.Read more