Supporting the largest infrastructure project in Europe
Tipped to become the largest infrastructure project in Europe, HS2 is one of the most fascinating and controversial UK construction projects to date.
While the immediate impact on the environment and the spiralling costs have been scrutinised by opposing groups, the positive long-term, economical, environmental and connectivity factors are clear to see.
In this blog we delve into the benefits of HS2, how the design and build is creating thousands of jobs and opportunities for UK companies and what we are doing to support the project.
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What is HS2?
HS2 is a state-of-the-art, low carbon, high-speed transport network aimed at providing greater rail capacity across the country and faster connections between the UK’s major cities. Upon completion, it will serve over 25 stations, connecting around 30 million people, significantly improving travel between the North and the Midlands, while integrating existing network stations to Scotland.
So, what are the benefits of HS2?
Increasing capacity, reducing congestion
For regular commuters, packed carriages, long delays and cancellations are an all too familiar occurrence. By removing inter-city trains from the current rail network, HS2 will free up space on existing lines for new local commuter trains and freight services, easing congestion and over-crowding. More freight trains will result in less lorries on our roads, in fact, every extra freight train can take up to 76 lorries off the road, improving traffic volume and hugely benefitting the environment.
Supporting local businesses
During peak construction, HS2 will require around 30,000 people to help design and build the railway. Thousands of opportunities for small and medium sized businesses will be created through main contractors.
Driving innovation
HS2 is embracing new technologies and innovation during the design phase and build process, sharing our ethos for achieving greater project productivity through more efficient and cost-effective building processes that reduce the impact on local communities and the environment.
Creating jobs
At peak construction, 30,000 jobs will be needed to design, build and implement HS2, including at least 2,000 apprenticeships. Once complete and operational, 3,000 jobs will be created, spread across the country.
Long term environmental advantages
Rail travel is easily the most carbon efficient method of mass transport. HS2 journeys will be low carbon - upon completion of Phase One, journeys will be 17 times more carbon efficient than flying, 7 times more carbon efficient than by car and twice as efficient as current trains.
In the future, HS2 trains will all be powered by a grid using 100% zero carbon energy and the landscape and ecology programme put in place will ensure that the immediate environmental impact of HS2 will be addressed. Here are some examples:
- 60 new wildlife habitats already created.
- 7 million trees to be planted in Phase One.
- 33 sq km of woodland to be created.
- £7m HS2 Woodland fund for new & existing woodlands.
- 85% of the 62 ancient woodlands will remain intact.
- New homes for barn owls.
- Ancient woodland soil will be salvaged.
How we are supporting HS2
With Phase 1 well underway, we have already supplied many of our products into the project.
Five 10ft Lifting Stores being used across Central and West projects, including, Ruislip shafts, South Ruislip and UB9 projects. These are completely bespoke and built to spec with a further eight to be distributed other HS2 projects in the near future.
Our larger 20ft bespoke Lifting Stores are being used for the London Euston site which include power and shelving for charging power tools and large amounts of racking for shackles and other accessories.
For concrete washout at Willesden Euro Tunnel sites, we have supplied our innovative Concrete Washout System, which reuses 100% of concrete waste water. This system is an industry best-practice as it provides huge environmental benefits and addresses long-standing issues around site waste management. Our Concrete Washout System will be on used on most Eastern and Central sites.
Our Wheel Wash is on-site at Birmingham Interchange Station ensuring all vehicles are sufficiently washed down before they leave site during the enabling works. This has significantly reduced the impact of excess muck on local roads from vehicle movements.
Smoking Shelters, Chain Storage Racks, Stillages, COSHH Stores and IBC’s (Intermediate Bulk Container), were used for the compound set up at Long Itchington North Portal. Our range of Lifting Beams have been transporting the rebar cages at the South Portal slurry treatment compound, plus Cycle Shelters and Bootwash were acquired for the Coleshill area.
Pilling specialists have taken some Concrete Skips and Fuel Bowsers to support work at Long Itchington Tunnel Portal. All equipment has been delivered by our CLOCS and FORS Gold transport service.
How we have supported major projects in the past
As no stranger to major infrastructure projects, we understand the challenges and demands they present. While our diverse product range covers most on-site requirements, our in-house design and steel manufacturing capabilities ensure we can create bespoke solutions to overcome challenges as they arise, making us a preferred partner of major contractors on large-scale projects.
From designing and installing two CantiDeck Bridge Platforms at Bloomberg HQ, London, for simultaneous load-out and quick access, to manufacturing a bespoke, hydraulic BulkX hopper system for overcoming multi-faceted muck away and logistics issues at Hinkley Point C…whatever the challenge, we always find a solution.
The BulkX Direct-to-Muck Bay system used at Crossrail Stepney Green could discharge 10,000 litres of spoil into the muck bay in 5 seconds, around 20 times faster than a Boat Skip. This allowed 24/7 excavation, cut 12 weeks off the dig programme and improved safety on site as no workers were required in the discharge zone.
On the Queensferry Crossing Project, we supplied high-quality lifting equipment and many of our standard-range products. Plus, we designed a bespoke 91t Lifting Beam that needed to be strong enough to transfer the bridge bottom deck panels and Welding Stores to stock the tools and materials required to weld the bridge sections together. These could be crane-lifted to the location of the ‘hot works’ crews with ease, a huge time-saving factor. We also supplied our weather-proof COSHH Stores for storage of any hazardous, or flammable substances.
During construction on Battersea Power Station, we designed and manufactured an award-winning, large goods lifting cage improving staff safety, while increasing the efficiency of lifting awkward loads into the basement. With a 5000kg capacity and a 4 x 3 metre load area, crane time and the number of lifts were hugely reduced.
Our approach to ground engineering ensures we can offer a complete subterranean construction solution, from initial discovery, to a full geotechnical audit and temporary works delivery and installation. Close collaboration with contractors allows us to propose solutions that reduce the impact on the environment making us a popular choice amongst contractors for temporary works. At UCLE Marshgate, we provided a full end-to-end design service, manufacturing bespoke 1000mm diameter props. More recent ground engineering projects include Paddington Cube and Royal Brompton Hospital.
Working with leading contractors has helped us to develop products to overcome the challenges that can be presented during major projects, where speed and efficiency is of paramount importance. The Northern Extension Line project is a perfect example of what can be achieved from close collaboration, combined with our design and manufacture capabilities. During this project, we collaborated with Mace and Ferrovial Laing O’Rourke (FLO) to develop the Crane Forks Cage, a fail-safe method for lifting bricks and blocks. After a successful trial, the Crane Forks Cage was used to transport the concrete sleepers down the shaft to lay under the track.
Recently, our CantiDeck crane loading platforms were used on the Thames Tideway Tunnel project. CantiDeck platforms are most commonly seen protruding from the side of buildings offering vertical movements and logistics solutions but they are also ideal for subterranean sites offering safety, storage and access for site staff. FLO JV also hired a range of our lifting equipment to fulfil the project demands, including, Lifting Beams, Access Cages, Portable Toilet Lifting Frames and Goods Cages. They benefitted from FORS Gold next day delivery, competitive rates, no damage or cleaning charges (damages waiver of £150), regular finance reporting amongst other and advantages guaranteed from our hire service.
Our verdict on HS2
On reflection, HS2 is a project that was always going to divide opinion due to the sheer scale of the project, the costs associated with fulfilling it and the immediate impact it will have on the environment.
However, we fully support HS2 as with Brexit looming, plus the impact COVID-19 has had across the UK and globally, it is essential to reignite our domestic economy, providing jobs and support to UK manufacturing businesses, just like us!
HS2 will also transform the connectivity of the country, significantly improving the environmental impact of travel in the future.
Your engineered solutions provider
Looking for support on HS2? Get in touch by email sales@cqegroup.com
