Companies interested in delivering the infrastructure behind HS2’s elevated transport system – designed to boost the high-speed railway’s connectivity in the West Midlands – are being invited to take part in a new market engagement exercise.
Ahead of the formal procurement process, which is expected to launch in early 2026, HS2 is assessing the capacity of global suppliers to deliver the Automated People Mover (APM), which will carry passengers to and from the new high-speed station in Solihull.
The APM is pivotal to HS2’s operation. It will provide a seamless link for regional, national, and international passengers travelling between HS2’s Interchange Station, the conventional rail network, Birmingham Airport and the events and entertainment complex at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and Resorts World.
Once appointed, the successful contractor will be tasked with the detailed design and delivery of the piers, viaducts, the APM’s four stops, the APM maintenance facility and all temporary works. HS2 expects to award the contract in 2028, with construction, system installation and testing forecast to be carried out between 2028 and 2030.
Andrew Cubitt, Procurement and Supply Chain Director for HS2 Ltd said: “Today we’re launching our two-week market engagement exercise, which enables potential suppliers to familiarise themselves with the very latest details for the APM infrastructure contract.
“Importantly, this is a two-way dialogue, a chance for us to listen and learn from those interested in bidding for the works, so we can define the scope, commercial approach and procurement strategy.”
The APM network will run on a 2.4km long viaduct, with a series of piers ranging in height from 6 to 14 metres to maintain a consistent level for the viaduct. The network will traverse heavily developed land, with intersections at major crossing points including the M42 motorway, the West Coast Mainline and Pendigo Lake at the NEC campus.
Three of the four APM stops will be built on the viaduct, while the Interchange Station stop will be at ground level. Key design features include a series of reinforced central concrete piers, a weathered steel deck and escape walkway gratings across the length of the track. The viaduct structure combines both single and twin track paths at various points along the route to allow trains to pass each other.
The APM stops at Birmingham Airport and at Interchange Station each have a single platform face and the intermediate stops at the NEC and Birmingham International Railway Station have two platform faces. The platforms vary from 36m to 40m in length and all platforms are fully covered with canopies and provide step free access.
Suppliers interested in bidding for the APM Infrastructure contract are invited to take part in HS2’s market engagement exercise. The supporting SmartSurvey, which opens today and closes on Tuesday 23 April 2024 at 5pm enables contractors to register their interest in the opportunity and provide feedback on the proposed work package.
For more information, and to complete the survey visit https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/APMMarketSoundingQuestionnaire/
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