Latest news with #HS2Ltd
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Glasgow Times
Photos show huge HS2 machine being pulled out of the ground
The 850-tonne Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) - named Caroline - was brought to the surface at the Green Park Way site in Greenford, west London, on Sunday (May 25). Photos show the mammoth machine, with a cutterhead spanning 9.48 metres in diameter, being pulled out of the vent shaft in one piece, using a large gantry crane. The images also show several flags from around the world hung to the surface, including Great Britain, Austria, Italy, and Turkey. The machine is called Caroline. (Image: HS2 / SWNS) The tunnelling machine concluded its 5-mile journey from West Ruislip in April, arriving in an underground reception chamber. The machine, named by a local school after the astronomer Caroline Herschel, is the second of four TBM's used to construct part of the 8.4-mile-long Northolt Tunnel. This new tunnel will take HS2 trains from Old Oak Common Station to the outskirts of the capital. The machine will make new tunnels for HS2. (Image: HS2 / SWNS) In total, TBM Caroline excavated over 1.2 million tonnes of earth and installed 4,217 tunnel rings, HS2 said. Recommended Reading The first machine to arrive at Green Park Way, named Sushila, was removed in March this year. Malcolm Codling, client director for HS2 Ltd, said: 'We're immensely proud of the work we have done to complete the second breakthrough for the Northolt Tunnel underneath the capital. 'As we focus on delivering Britain's new high speed railway between London and the West Midlands, we are gearing up for our most productive year to date on this stretch of the line.'
Sky News
26-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News
HS2: Investigation launched into two firms supplying construction workers
An investigation has been launched into "whistleblower allegations" about the practices of some "labour suppliers" to the company building the embattled HS2 rail line. HS2 Ltd is investigating two companies that supply workers to build part of the London to Birmingham section of the line, which the i Paper, which first reported the story, says relates to the billing for the staff supplied. The company, which is owned by the government, says it "treats all whistleblower allegations seriously" and launched an investigation earlier this year, while the Department for Transport adds that it will ensure any claims of wrongdoing are "thoroughly investigated". The paper reports that the allegations relate to staff being misclassified, and therefore an inflated rate being charged to employ them. It is understood the two firms under investigation were providing workers to one of HS2's contractors on the West Midlands section of the line, Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV), which is not accused of wrongdoing. 3:09 A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd says BBV has "implemented additional monitoring and controls". It is understood that one contractor remains suspended from new contracts while the probe continues. An HS2 spokesperson said: "HS2 Ltd treats all whistleblower allegations seriously and we are aware of the claims made in relation to labour suppliers on part of the route. "An investigation was launched earlier this year into a number of different allegations and our contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI has implemented additional monitoring and controls." A Department for Transport spokesperson added: "The government and HS2 Ltd take all whistleblower allegations extremely seriously and have a zero-tolerance attitude towards fraud, bribery, and corruption. We will therefore ensure any claims of wrongdoing in HS2's supply chain are thoroughly investigated. "We have taken action to grip the delivery of HS2, tasking CEO Mark Wild to fundamentally reset the project and change the company's culture and capability to deliver the line as cost effectively as possible." It is understood that there is currently no police or HMRC involvement. BBV has been approached for comment. What is HS2? The HS2 rail line was announced in 2009 to boost capacity and cut the journey time between London and the north of England. The initial plan was to build the first phase connecting London and Birmingham, followed by adding two branches to Manchester and Leeds - but the previous Conservative government decided to scrap the second phase due to spiralling costs and numerous setbacks, and the new Labour administration has said it will not reverse the decision. Sir Keir Starmer's government has pledged to "get a grip" on the rising costs of the project that, according to a House of Commons research briefing, have been driven "by high inflation, as well as scope changes, worse ground conditions than expected and optimism bias". In 2012, it was estimated that HS2 Phase 1 would cost £20.5bn (in 2019 prices) to complete - but forecasts have since grown, with the most recent estimate in January 2024 estimating it would cost £49bn to £56.6bn (in 2019 prices).
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HS2: Investigation launched into two firms supplying construction workers
An investigation has been launched into "whistleblower allegations" about the practices of some "labour suppliers" to the company building the embattled HS2 rail line. HS2 Ltd is investigating two companies that supply workers to build part of the London to Birmingham section of the line, which the i Paper, which first reported the story, says relates to the billing for the staff supplied. The company, which is owned by the government, says it "treats all whistleblower allegations seriously" and launched an investigation earlier this year, while the Department for Transport adds that it will ensure any claims of wrongdoing are "thoroughly investigated". Politics latest: The paper reports that the allegations relate to staff being misclassified, and therefore an inflated rate being charged to employ them. It is understood the two firms under investigation were providing workers to one of HS2's contractors on the West Midlands section of the line, Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV), which is not accused of wrongdoing. A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd says BBV has "implemented additional monitoring and controls". It is understood that one contractor remains suspended from new contracts while the probe continues. An HS2 spokesperson said: "HS2 Ltd treats all whistleblower allegations seriously and we are aware of the claims made in relation to labour suppliers on part of the route. "An investigation was launched earlier this year into a number of different allegations and our contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI has implemented additional monitoring and controls." A Department for Transport spokesperson added: "The government and HS2 Ltd take all whistleblower allegations extremely seriously and have a zero-tolerance attitude towards fraud, bribery, and corruption. We will therefore ensure any claims of wrongdoing in HS2's supply chain are thoroughly investigated. "We have taken action to grip the delivery of HS2, tasking CEO Mark Wild to fundamentally reset the project and change the company's culture and capability to deliver the line as cost effectively as possible." It is understood that there is currently no police or HMRC involvement. BBV has been approached for comment. What is HS2? The HS2 rail line was announced in 2009 to boost capacity and cut the journey time between London and the north of England. The initial plan was to build the first phase connecting London and Birmingham, followed by adding two branches to Manchester and Leeds - but the previous Conservative government decided to scrap the second phase due to spiralling costs and numerous setbacks, and the new Labour administration has said it will not reverse the decision. Read more:Sam Coates PM declares war on £100m HS2 bat shedGovernment doesn't know how much HS2 will cost Sir Keir Starmer's government has pledged to "get a grip" on the rising costs of the project that, according to a House of Commons research briefing, have been driven "by high inflation, as well as scope changes, worse ground conditions than expected and optimism bias". In 2012, it was estimated that HS2 Phase 1 would cost £20.5bn (in 2019 prices) to complete - but forecasts have since grown, with the most recent estimate in January 2024 estimating it would cost £49bn to £56.6bn (in 2019 prices).
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HS2 investigating two firms supplying construction staff
The company building the HS2 rail line between London and Birmingham says it is investigating "allegations" about the practices of some "labour suppliers" to the project. HS2 Ltd is looking into two firms supplying workers to build the West Midlands section of the high-speed line. It is understood to relate to billing for the staff supplied. The Department for Transport said it would ensure "any claims of wrongdoing in HS2's supply chain" were "thoroughly" dealt with. The existence of HS2's investigation, which began earlier this year was first reported by the i newspaper on Monday. According to the paper, the matter relates to misclassification of staff and claims that inflated rates were being charged for them. It is understood the two firms being looked at were providing workers to Balfour Beatty Vinci, one of HS2's contractors. A HS2 spokesperson said it treated "all whistleblower allegations seriously", adding that Balfour Beatty Vinci "had implemented additional monitoring and controls". It is understood one of the labour suppliers remains suspended from new contracts while inquiries continue. A Department for Transport spokesman said the government and HS2 "take all whistleblower allegations extremely seriously and have a zero-tolerance attitude towards fraud, bribery, and corruption". "We will therefore ensure any claims of wrongdoing in HS2's supply chain are thoroughly investigated." The police and HMRC are not believed to be involved. HS2 blew billions - here's how and why Mayors reveal plan for Manchester-Birmingham line Ministers to oversee HS2 build as costs 'spiral' Work is currently under way to build the nearly 140-mile high-speed line between London and the West Midlands. The HS2 project was announced in 2009 to boost capacity on England's north-south rail links, aiming to reduce journey times, create jobs and boost the UK economy. The original plan was to build the line in two phases - with the first connecting London and Birmingham and the second adding two branches to Manchester and Leeds. But the project has suffered various setbacks and spiralling costs since it was announced and the decision was taken by the last Conservative government to scrap the second phase. The Labour government has said it will not reinstate it. Much of the work London-Birmingham section has been completed - with more than 75% of tunnelling complete, according to HS2 Ltd. Separately, the mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands have revealed plans for a new rail line linking their regions which would rely on private investment and cost less than the scrapped northern leg of HS2. Official estimates of how much HS2 will cost have changed several times over the years. Last October, the government announced that ministers would take a direct role in overseeing the building of the line to try to "get a grip" on rising costs. The government previously said costs had soared because of factors including "poor project management, inflation and poor performance from the supply chain". In 2012 it was estimated that HS2 Phase 1 (London to Birmingham) would cost £20.5bn (at 2019 prices). The government's most recent estimate of the overall cost is between £45bn and £54bn at 2019 prices - but HS2 management have estimated the figure to be more like £49bn to £57bn. According to a House of Commons research briefing, cost increases have been driven "by high inflation, as well as scope changes, worse ground conditions than expected and optimism bias".
BBC News
21-05-2025
- BBC News
HS2 construction prepares for M6 'viaduct slide' near Birmingham
Work is under way to install twin bridges carrying the HS2 railway over the structures will be assembled across the motorway near Birmingham Airport and Chelmsley can expect road closures as the first part is slid into place during the weekend of 7-8 Kenney, HS2 Ltd's Senior Project Manager said: "It's great to see the first section of the M6 viaducts coming together." The viaducts are being constructed to one side of the motorway, then slid into place to cut the duration of road next section of the London-bound route to be put in place, over the M6-M42 link road, will come during further weekend closures.A parallel viaduct carrying Birmingham-bound trains will be put in place in a similar operation next than 200 major bridges and viaducts are being built as part of the HS2 project was originally designed to facilitate high-speed rail journeys between London and northern England, but the high cost resulted in the previous Conservative government scrapping the route north of Birmingham. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
