HS2 Ltd awarded a £260 million (EUR 286 million) contract to a consortium comprising Porr and Aggregate Industries UK to design and manufacture modular slab track for the Phase One and 2a of HS2 project. The contract excludes track in tunnels and on some specialist structures.
The contract will see the production of modular slab track at a new factory near Shepton Mallet in Somerset which will create up to 500 jobs over the life of the contract.
The consortium will manufacture all of the track between London and Crewe, where HS2 joins the existing west coast mainline.
Using a modular construction system known as Slab Track Austria, the concrete slab track will be manufactured offsite at a new purpose-built factory in Somerset before being transported to site. Once installed, the rails are then fitted onto the slab track.
This type of system, which is used on several high-speed railways across the world, will reduce maintenance costs and improve performance in comparison to traditional ballasted track.
“Slab track will provide long-term value for money with lower maintenance costs and greater reliability and that’s why I’m pleased that today we are awarding that contract to the PORR consortium. This award is another example of how HS2 is already supporting companies across the UK, creating jobs and helping the economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic,” HS2 Ltd’s Procurement and Commercial Director, David Poole said.
A separate track systems contractor, due to be appointed in 2022 will have overall responsibility for managing and coordinating the design and installation of the complex rail systems in each section of the route. This includes the installation of the slab track manufactured by the Porr consortium and the interface with signalling and overhead power supply.
Separate specialist contractors will also deliver the rails, switches and crossings, high voltage power supply, communications and mechanical and electrical systems.
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