High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd – the company established by the Government in January 2009 to advise on the development of high-speed rail services between London and Scotland – has again chosen Arup to take plans for the Y-shaped extension of the high-speed line forward.
Arup’s work will include identifying the optimal engineering options to take the 400kph route from Birmingham to Leeds. The company’s offices in Leeds, York, the Midlands and London will be heavily involved in the project. Arup’s work will be submitted to HS2 Ltd by July 2011.
Colin Stewart, Arup’s global rail leader comments, "This is an exceptional opportunity to drive forward ideas for the new rail network – a project with the potential to have a vast impact on travel around the UK, and the economic landscape.
“Arup has been a champion of high-speed rail since the late 1980s, when we were first involved in the planning and delivery of High Speed 1. Our proven ideas, know-how and expertise in this area are now shaping high-speed rail travel around the world – and will allow us to make a rapid start on this project.”
In 2009 Arup was appointed by HS2 Ltd as consultant for the rail options study for the London-Birmingham section of the route. This role included investigating options for stations in London and Birmingham, access to Heathrow Airport and possible connections to High Speed 1.
Arup’s rail business is also currently involved in plans for other high speed projects including California High Speed Rail, Florence’s high-speed station, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, and Portugal’s High Speed Rail system.