Rail | Parsons Brinckerhoff
freight trains will be able to use the space that will be created on the existing rail network while replacing lorry traffic on the motorways. We are not just talking about shaving a few minutes off rail journeys here. HS2 will dramatically cut the time it takes to get between Britain’s major cities: l London to Birmingham 84 minutes down to 49. l London to Manchester from over two hours to just over an hour. l Birmingham to Nottingham 73 minutes down to just 36. l York from Birmingham down to just a fraction over an hour from 130 minutes.
Connectivity between this country’s main cities will be totally transformed, particularly between the Midlands and the North.
Employment
Critically, HS2 also has the potential to revitalise the construction and railway engineering sectors. This is an opportunity to inspire a new generation of workers and organisations - and what better way than investing in them to become responsible for the creation of a world class railway line of the future. The first obvious impact will be the immediate effect on jobs in the sector. Once the bill is passed by parliament, construction of the line should be well underway by 2017. The opportunity to inject an instant jobs boost to the sector is one that should be embraced. An estimated 9,000 construction jobs will be created in the first year alone, with the peak workforce of more than 12,700 expected in 2018/19. These figures just take into account direct jobs working on construction of the line, and do not count indirect jobs created in the supply chain – and analysis in this area estimates that the sector will see an additional 65,000 jobs added across the construction supply chain in the period to 2026. To build HS2, Britain will have to train a new generation of construction workers and railway engineers, ensuring investment towards training and education in the sector. Already, the Department of Business Innovation and Skills has promised a new dedicated further education college, the first of its kind in 20 years, specifically
for HS2 and the training of students in the skills needed to construct a new high speed line.
Meeting the challenge
For HS2, there are many challenges involved in delivering such an iconic and sophisticated railway system. But the team of leading experts now focussed on the project is already rising to the challenge with innovative thinking and global best practice.
For Parsons Brinckerhoff, the most obvious challenge as rail system designer is that the project pushes the boundaries in so many areas, particularly as it aims to deliver train speeds of up to 360 kph by 2026 with world class reliability. The implications of such high speeds are many and
76 GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY 2014 | ISSUE 01
varied, particularly in terms of aerodynamics for track alignment and tunnel design. Additionally, exploiting the potential for future technology development over the period is challenging, as is optimising energy consumption and appropriate use of materials. In all these areas we are meeting the challenge and using global expertise to lay the foundations for the delivery of a state-of-the-art, reliable and resilient high speed rail network. This will stand the test of time, add vital additional capacity to the current rail network, add value to the economy and be a catalyst for change.
GO
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.pbworld.com
global-opportunity.co.uk
IMAGE SUPPLIED BY HS2 LTD
RAIL
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PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF
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