Procurement process opens for £2.75bn HS2 fleet development contract

Companies are now able to bid for the £2.75bn contract to design, build and maintain Britain’s next generation of high-speed trains.

Announced this week (April 20) by HS2 Ltd, the successful bidder will develop around 60 trains to transport passengers on the new high speed rail network and onto existing railway infrastructure.

The firm that wins the bid will maintain the fleet from a dedicated rolling stock depot planned for Washwood Heath, Birmingham. The centre will also house the HS2 Network Control Centre.

Chris Grayling MP, Transport Secretary, believes the quality of the trains will “make HS2’s reputation from day one”.

He said: “It is a given that we want the trains to be comfortable, reliable and a pleasure to use, meeting the highest standards internationally for passenger experience, noise reduction, and environmental sustainability.

“But companies interested in bidding for the train contract need to push the boundaries. We want to see innovation, creativity and ambition.”

The contract for the initial fleet will be awarded as a single package, with invitations to tender due to be issued in Spring 2018 to shortlisted companies. The winning bidder will be named in late 2019.

Future contracts will see more trains added to the fleet in the project’s second phase in 2033.

The managing director of rail operations at HS2 Ltd, Chris Rayner, commented: “The priorities and needs of our future passengers are at the centre of our thinking.

He added: “Quite simply we want every aspect of travelling by HS2 to exceed expectations – from the passenger experience in selecting their journey and getting information, to travelling through our stations, to the train ride itself.”

He added: “We challenge bidders to achieve this ambition.”

The Government has forecast HS2’s construction phase to create in the region of 25k jobs and 2,000 apprenticeships.

HS2 Ltd said it has held discussions with suppliers based in the UK to ensure they are in the best possible position to secure contracts.

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