Hi everyone. I’m Mark Thurston, CEO of HS2,
bringing you our latest update on the delivery of HS2 from our Curzon Street site in Birmingham,
at the heart of the high-speed rail network in the West Midlands.
As some of you may already know, after six and a half years leading HS2 Ltd, I recently announced
that I will be leaving the organisation – so this will be my last HS2 update video.
We had just received Royal Assent for Phase One at the beginning of 2017 when I arrived,
and I am immensely proud of what we have delivered in my time as Chief Executive,
leading this programme since.
We’re now 3 years into our main construction works programme and today HS2 is supporting almost
30,000 jobs around the UK, including close to 1,300 apprenticeships.
Construction of the first phase of HS2 is at its height, with major works taking place on
several hundred sites across the route between London and the West Midlands.
The next 18 to 24 months will see us move into an exciting new stage,
as the project increases its focus on the design and delivery of the railway systems,
including signalling, track, and power, that will transform the structures into the operational
railway that future passengers will use. And we’re ensuring that we have a skilled team
in place to lead this fantastic programme through what will be another defining period for HS2.
As always, there has been huge progress across the programme
over the past three months since our last project update in June.
In the West Midlands, throughout the summer our
construction teams successfully moved three bridges into place,
which will allow HS2 trains to pass beneath existing railway lines in Warwickshire.
These incredible operations are the culmination of years of careful planning,
design and innovative engineering, in close collaboration with Network Rail,
to complete our works safely, within planned closures – and in some cases even early,
which minimise the impacts on passengers and local communities.
We closed out this summer with the removal of a 4,000 tonne road bridge over the M42, to make the
space for us to build a new structure, which will carry the HS2 railway over the motorway.
What was really pleasing is that the work was completed safely, efficiently and sooner than
anticipated, which meant the motorway could be reopened 14 hours ahead of schedule.
Our new ‘super-hub’ Old Oak Common station in West London, which will be the largest newly built
railway station in the UK, has been recognised as outstanding for its environmental design.
That means Old Oak Common joins HS2’s Interchange Station in the West Midlands in achieving an
outstanding rating - a level of performance met by only 1% of new buildings globally.
Our fleet of high-speed trains, which will be designed and built right here in the UK
across three factories, have been recognised as the most environmentally-friendly in the world.
Due to start rolling off the production line around 2027, the eight carriage trains
measure 200 metres in length, will be more aerodynamic, more energy-efficient, lighter,
leaner, and greener than any other high-speed train in design, production or operation today.
Earlier this summer, we announced that our London Logistics Hub in
Willesden has now transported over 1 million tonnes of spoil, taking 110,000
lorry movements off roads. Over the course of the project, this facility will transfer
and transport over 5 million tonnes of spoil via rail from London where the spoil will be reused.
Also in west London, our two Tunnel Boring Machines, Sushila and Caroline,
have each completed over 1-mile of their journeys towards the capital.
In July we began production of over
83,000 concrete tunnel segments at a new facility at Hartlepool docks.
This has created over 100 jobs, including six new apprenticeships
and meant that local people who were able to start new careers working on HS2.
‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’ – our tunnelling machines
digging HS2’s longest tunnel – have made it more than three quarters of
the way through their 10-mile drive under the Chiltern hills in Buckinghamshire.
Also in Buckinghamshire, our third conveyor system on the project is in use,
again removing spoil from construction. This will remove around 70,000 lorry journeys off
local roads and significantly reduce disruption for local residents during our construction.
And here in the West Midlands, our sixth tunnelling machine Mary Ann is progressing
well on her drive towards Birmingham, and the team is busy preparing to assemble
the second machine, which will dig the second bore of that tunnel next year.
Leading this organisation has been the highlight of my career and a privilege from the first day.
The engineering challenge of HS2 is immense and everyone involved
can be extremely proud of the progress we’ve made – completing
important archaeological and enabling works along large parts of the route,
mobilising our construction partners and building the crucial new infrastructure.
We’ve seen nothing on this scale in living memory.
Finally, let’s not forget that HS2 is a national endeavour. A project that is
transforming the economy of our country and whose benefits will be felt for generations to come.
I look forward to seeing this once in a lifetime project being delivered,
and I wish everyone involved the very best and every success for the future.
Thank you.