In the six-monthly High Speed 2 report to Parliament on October 20, Minister for HS2 Andrew Stephenson said ‘we’ve confirmed the move to a less complex, more efficient 10-platform design’ at London Euston, down from the planned 11 platforms, as this ‘can be built in a single stage, and can still support the full operation of the HS2 network’. The opening date range for Phase 1 remains 2029-33, although HS2 Ltd ’has identified some potential minor delays in the southern section of the line-of-route and tunnels leading into Old Oak Common from outer London’. The Phase 2a opening date range is now 2030-34.
Zonegreen has completed the first in a series of planned depot enhancements for ScotRail, working with project manager CPMS to install its Depot Personnel Protection System at the single road shed at Clayhills in Aberdeen. This is the first installation since DPPS was independently certified to meet SIL2 safety requirements.
Network Rail has awarded Plasser UK a £3·5m contract to overhaul the bottom conveyor on 44 MFS ballast wagons.
Transport for Wales has awarded Ricardo Rail, SNC-Lavalin and Mott MacDonald renewable two-year framework contracts to act as notifiable, designated and assessment bodies.
HS2 Main Works Civils Contractor Costain Skanska Strabag JV has awarded its second contract for the production of precast tunnel segments to Strabag. The company will open a production facility on a former oil rig fabrication site at PD Ports’ Hartlepool Dock to supply 36 000 segments from December 2022 for lining the twin bore tunnels from Old Oak Common station to Green Parkway.
Publicly accessible automated external defibrillators are to be provided at all Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink stations by the end of October, including minor stations. Sussex Heart Charity and other organisations supplied many of the original AEDs, but the network has now been extended as part of a wider £15m stations improvement programme.
London Overground concessionaire Arriva Rail London has appointed Charlotte Whitfield as Customer Experience Director. She joined the company in 2017 as a General Manager, and has held management positions at FirstGroup, G4S Global and Arriva Bus.
Lucy Prior has joined Doncaster-based cable management system supplier Trough-Tec Systems as Business Growth Director.
Network Rail has awarded Lexington Communications Ltd a £1·25m contract to provide full-service consultancy, analysis, and monitoring to support its overarching communications and engagement strategy, individual projects and responses to major events.
