• c.£300m award to deliver the high voltage electrical network for the UK’s new high speed rail line.

A Siemens Mobility and Costain Joint Venture is to be awarded a long-term contract to deliver high voltage (HV) power supply systems for HS2 throughout the entire 225km route between London and the West Midlands. 

The Joint Venture will be responsible for designing, manufacturing, supplying, installing, testing, commissioning and maintaining high voltage power supply systems between London and Birmingham. The joint venture will form part of the Rail Systems Alliance structure and work collaboratively with industry partners to deliver this railway.

Following completion of the design and build contract there will be a separate seven-year maintenance contract. The HV total contract value is expected to be worth in the region of £300m to the Siemens Mobility and Costain Joint Venture, with optional contract extensions. The separate maintenance contract is valued at £32m for the Joint Venture. 

The Siemens Mobility and Costain Joint Venture will bring together a range of skills and capabilities including project management, digital coordination, systems integration, equipment manufacturing and supply chain collaboration. Traction and non-traction substations will be built alongside the line, providing power to stations, shafts, portals, depots and railway systems between London and Birmingham. Both companies will draw on extensive mega-project experience, including the Elizabeth line, the East Coast Main Line Power Supply Upgrade, and many more. 

With high voltage power coming from the national grid, HS2 trains will be powered by zero carbon energy from day one of operation.

“This new contract continues our long-standing involvement with the UK’s largest strategic investment programme and reflects our excellent collaborative relationship with HS2. It also marks the start of a new partnership with Siemens Mobility and its team of experts who share our values and ambitions.

“Providing a safe, reliable power system will be critical to the success of a new transport route which will be one of the lowest carbon ways to travel in the UK, freeing up more capacity on the existing rail network and helping to take cars and lorries off the roads. Rail electrification remains a crucial part of the UK’s decarbonisation plans and HS2’s power supply will set new standards for the infrastructure industry.”

Alex Vaughan CEO, Costain

“HS2 is going to transform rail travel in Britain, and we’re delighted to be playing a key part in delivering it with our Joint Venture partners, Costain.

“Our work for HS2 will help in sustaining British jobs and skills from our UK based workforce, and in our 2,500 strong supply chain.

“We’re already committed to investing £100 million in a brand-new digital engineering, manufacturing and research and development centre in Chippenham, which will now play a key role in delivering HS2.”

Rob Morris Joint CEO, Siemens Mobility UKI

source: Costain .