While plans for a high-speed rail link between London and the Midlands may have the big contractors licking their lips, there could be huge benefits for smaller companies too.
The announcement that HS2 is to get the go-ahead is a tremendous boost for the nation and in particular those sectors associated with railways. Here at HBPW we are looking forward to playing our part in taking the rail network into a new golden age.
“HS2 will demonstrate to the world what British civil engineering can do,” says HBPW’s Paul Withers. “It will bring Britain’s railways into the 21st century.” High Speed Two will connect London and the West Midlands, with Leeds and Manchester to follow as part of the wider “Y” network.
The project, believes Paul, will safeguard jobs for years to come.
“First and foremost this is a tremendous engineering challenge,” says Paul. “It means building a new line through and past existing infrastructure, including tunnels; it will be an enormous technical feat.
“As the infrastructure improves to accommodate the high-speed trains they have on the continent, there will undoubtedly be a knock-on effect for the rest of the rail network.
“As I see it, the workload for companies like ours will increase as the economy takes an up-turn. This is excellent news all round.”
Paul is delighted that HS2 is yet another reason to fly the flag for the best of British, in a year when London 2012 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee have triggered a wave of patriotic fervour.
“How apt that the HS2 scheme has been given the go-ahead in Olympic year. Our engineering expertise has allowed Olympic facilities to be completed safely and on time. Engineers have overcome contaminated land and worked within existing infrastructure to complete an utterly remarkable job.
“Magnificent works like the Olympic facilities and HS2 are our shop window for the world.”