The HS2 train building programme is paving the way for a new era of British jobs

Transport secretary, Chris Grayling has told bidders that new HS2 trains must deliver jobs and skills in Britain, in a huge new UK train programme.

HS2 Ltd is to name the five shortlisted firms today (November 2) seeking to win the multi-billion pound contract to build some of the fastest trains in the world.

Grayling told companies in the race - to be awarded the £2.75bn contract - they will need to show how “huge opportunities” for British workers will be provided in their bid to build Britain’s fastest trains.

He said: “I am determined to see the great HS2 train building programme create huge opportunities for British workers and drive economic growth in our country.

“Bidders need to push the boundaries and I want to see innovation and ambition in their plans to build the fastest trains in Britain… I want to pave the way for a new generation of highly skilled British workers, boosting skills, generating employment and strengthening the manufacturing supply chain.

“Britain’s new railway will carry more than 300,000 people a day, improve connections between our great cities, free up space on our existing rail lines, and generate jobs. But it is crucial that the benefits of HS2 resonate far beyond the opening of the new railway.”

The new 225mph trains are aiming to meet the highest international standards for noise reduction and environmental sustainability.

Starting from 2026, the trains will bring the benefits of high-speed rail to the likes of London up to the West Midlands, but also onward to places like Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, Preston and Wigan.

The successful bidder is to maintain the fleet from the dedicated depot planned for Washwood Heath in Birmingham, which will also be home to the HS2 Network Control Centre - together creating hundreds of skilled jobs.

This announcement comes after the opening of the new National College for High Speed Rail in Birmingham and Doncaster, and after work began on the first round of the project to connect London and Birmingham.

HS2 Ltd is to continue working with the shortlisted bidders and potential UK suppliers to create jobs, boost skills and encourage a wide range of people to join the HS2 workforce.

In total, construction of the full HS2 route to the North West and Yorkshire will create up to 25,000 jobs and 2,000 apprenticeships. Another 3,000 people will operate HS2 and it is estimated that growth around new HS2 stations will create another 100,000 jobs.

Invitations to tender are expected to be issued to shortlisted bidders in spring 2018 with contract award following in late 2019. A further competition will be run to provide trains for the second phase of the project which is due to commence services in 2033.

In addition, Hitachi Rail Europe’s manufacturing facility in County Durham is building more than 100 Intercity Express trains to be rolled out across the Great Western and East Coast lines over the next three years.

Also, earlier this year it was announced Derby’s Bombardier had secured a multi-million pound investment to build 90 new trains for South Western passengers.

The trains will be based on the Bombardier Aventra platform, which is also being used for the 70 new trains for Crossrail – which is due to open in 2018 as the Elizabeth Line.

HS2 aims to make journeys to Scotland faster, too. Under HS2’s first phase, between London Euston and Birmingham, journeys from London to Glasgow should take under four hours.

By 2027, and the opening of the expansion of the network to Crewe, the journey between Glasgow and London will be reduced by 45 minutes compared to today.

HS2 will also mean that by 2033, journey times between London and Glasgow and Edinburgh will be reduced to around three hours and 40 minutes.