Helping HS2 Ltd turn the UK’s most ambitious rail proposal into an approved, coordinated and buildable program through integrated design, environmental assessment, cost assurance and data-led decision-making.
Rising passenger demand and limited capacity on Britain’s busiest rail routes have placed increasing pressure on the national network. HS2 was conceived as a new high-capacity railway that could release space on existing lines, improve connections between major cities and support economic growth.
Delivering a program of this scale required far more than designing a faster railway. HS2 Ltd needed to coordinate new track, stations, depots, tunnels and rail systems across complex urban and rural environments. The proposals also had to meet environmental requirements, demonstrate value for public investment and withstand detailed government, parliamentary and public scrutiny.
Our specialist, global high-speed rail team supported HS2 across both Phase 1 and the proposed Phase 2. Phase 1, connecting London and Birmingham, is under construction. The planned Phase 2 extensions from the West Midlands to Crewe, Manchester and Leeds were later cancelled by the UK government. For Phase 1, we helped prepare and assure the technical and environmental documentation required to support the Hybrid Bill and its passage through Parliament. For Phase 2, we led route engineering, environmental assessment and multidisciplinary design to assess options, support public consultation and inform government decisions.
Coordinating a railway of exceptional scale
For the 230-kilometer Phase 1 route between London and Birmingham, our teams provided multidisciplinary engineering and environmental design, systems integration and cost estimating. Our role included preliminary design and scheme development for the Hybrid Bill, design of Birmingham Interchange Station, concept design for Old Oak Common Station, remodelling of the Euston and Old Oak Common sections and serving as Main Designer for the Phase 1 Overhead Catenary System (OCS). The work covered four new stations as well as Overhead Catnary System design, tunnels, urban alignments and connections with existing rail and transport infrastructure.
One of the most complex sections extended for 25 kilometers from Euston through the densely developed environment of northwest London. Bringing engineering, environmental, cost and construction specialists together allowed buildability, affordability and interfaces with existing infrastructure to be considered throughout design development.
We also worked alongside HS2 Ltd’s project controls team as lead cost estimator and cost manager for Phase 1. Our teams developed cost models, applied “should cost” analysis and reviewed contractor estimates to give the client a clearer and more consistent basis for investment and delivery decisions. This included the review and assurance of 28 work packages forming the Phase 1 control baseline. The work contributed to the Baseline 7.0 position that supported Notice to Proceed for the program’s major civil works contracts.
Our support extended into enabling works and construction, including interdisciplinary ecological, environmental and engineering surveys across the north, central and southern sections, management of the Old Oak Common Depot decommissioning program and construction monitoring for the Main Works Civils Contract Area North.
Building environmental evidence into route decisions
Environmental assessment was central to establishing a credible case for the railway. More than 250 of our specialists across 13 environmental disciplines contributed to the Phase 1 assessment, producing over 5,000 GIS maps for what became the largest and most complex Environmental Impact Statement undertaken in the UK.
For the proposed 155-kilometer Birmingham to Manchester section of Phase 2b, we led route engineering and developed system configuration plans, construction programs and rail integration strategies. Our work included concept engineering for 18 kilometers of tunnels, two stations and two depots, alongside interdisciplinary design reviews, land referencing and public consultation support.
From 2017, we led the civil design and environmental services joint venture for 85 kilometers of the proposed Eastern Leg between Birmingham and Sheffield, acting as the primary delivery partner for feasibility, concept design, route development and the environmental statement in preparation for the Hybrid Bill.
Using connected data to reduce delivery risk
Digital delivery helped teams manage the volume of information and interfaces across the program. BIM and GIS were used within a common data environment to strengthen coordination between disciplines and identify potential conflicts earlier. We also supported the development of HS2’s GIS protocols and its end-to-end CAD-to-GIS processes, improving the consistency of information across the program. On Phase 2b, our award-winning Automated Learned Intelligence tool checked models automatically, helping teams identify design issues earlier and improve the speed and accuracy of assurance.
Public feedback also informed route development. Across 29 public events, more than 30,000 consultation submissions were received. These responses supported route refinement, environmental mitigation and the development of evidence for decision-making. Beyond route development and design, we acted as a client-side lead for public consultations and stakeholder engagement, helped develop HS2’s Skills, Education and Employment and Training and Skills strategies, independently verified carbon footprint calculations, provided strategic advisory services for efficiency reviews, and delivered cost intelligence and cost assurance across both Phase 1 and Phase 2.
Supporting confident decisions on a nationally significant program
Our work helped HS2 Ltd secure parliamentary approval for Phase 1, establish a stronger cost baseline and integrate engineering, environmental and construction requirements across a highly complex program. Phase 1 represented capital investment of around £40 billion, where we delivered combined services valued at more than US$300 million. On the proposed Phase 2, collaborative value management identified potential cost efficiencies of more than £400 million.
Although the government subsequently cancelled the Phase 2 extensions, the engineering, environmental and digital methods developed across the program provide valuable experience for HS2 and other major infrastructure authorities managing complex approvals, costs and delivery risks.