The Government has started a hunt for HS2 manufacturer. The £2.75 billion contract will be awarded in 2019 with the winning bidders going on to deliver a brand new fleet of up to 60 trains which will provide services capable of seating more than 1,000 passengers.
The trains will be required to meet HS2’s design and performance needs and international standards for passenger experience, noise reduction, and environmental sustainability, while maximising skills, employment and growth opportunities. The successful bidder will also maintain the fleet from the dedicated rolling stock depot planned for Washwood Heath in Birmingham. The site will also be home to the HS2 Network Control Centre. Future contracts will add to this fleet, to provide trains for the second phase of the project, in 2033.
The Periodic Indicative Notice pre-advising the formal start of the process in spring this year has been launched. There will be an industry event on 27 March where interested companies can find out more about the bidding requirements and process. This will be followed by the launch of the pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) pack which will provide further details of the specifications for the trains. Bidders will be shortlisted following the PQQ, and the formal invitations to tender issued in 2018.
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