Key Information:
The HS2 project will deliver high speed railway connections between London, the West Midlands, and the North. The construction of the new railway is split into two phases, both of which will bring significant benefits for the West Midlands region.
Phase 1 – London to the West Midlands
In Phase 1 of HS2, a new high speed railway line will be constructed from London to the West Midlands, where services will re-join the existing West Coast Mainline. It is anticipated that Phase 1 will open between 2029 and 2033, and will run on 140 miles of dedicated track. To enable this, four brand new stations and two new depots will be built by 25,300 construction workers.
Employment:
- 1,300 individuals will be employed at HS2’s headquarters at Birmingham Snow Hill
- 500 people will be employed to maintain the rolling stock at Washwood Heath Depot
Skills:
- The National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure will provide specialist training, skills and qualifications to those required to build HS2 and other future rail infrastructure projects
Investment and Growth:
- The Curzon Investment Plan is worth almost £1 billion, and will create 36,000 jobs, 4,000 new homes, and 600,000m of commercial floor space
- National firms such as HSBC, Jacobs Engineering, and Interserve are choosing to relocate to and invest in the West Midlands as a result of HS2’s arrival
Phase 2a – West Midlands to Crewe :
Phase 2a will see high speed rail services running from Fradley in the West Midlands to Crewe in Cheshire. Services will begin operating between London, Birmingham and Crewe between 2029 and 2033 and will carry six long distance high speed services per hour.
Employment:
- 6,500 jobs will be created for Phase 2a, almost 1,500 more than initially forecast
Connectivity:
- Improved reliability, reduced waiting times, fewer cars on the road, and more frequent rail services
- Birmingham will lie at the heart of the new national network, connecting people to eight of the ten largest cities in the UK, which will enable local businesses to access new domestic and international markets to trade in new skills and products
Economy:
- As well as uplifting regional productivity levels, this Phase will play a big part in rebalancing the economy and is a key element of the Government’s Industrial Strategy
- 700 businesses supported to take advantage of related opportunities
Find out more about the projects that HS2 is delivering in Birmingham:
For more information about what HS2 means for Birmingham, visit HS2’s website.
Birmingham City Council has also worked closely alongside HS2 to help deliver and support the project. Visit Birmingham City Council’s website to find out more about their role
Business Support:
There are many opportunities for businesses across Greater Birmingham to get involved with and capitalise upon the benefits that HS2 will bring to the region.
Supply chain opportunities
In the coming years, there will be an estimated 34,000 roles within HS2’s supply chain to support the delivery of the project.
Get support from HS2’s Job Brokerage Partners when accessing HS2 opportunities.
Business support
The Policy team can provide further information regarding GBCC’s work around HS2 opportunities and how businesses can get involved with the project. Please contact the team: policy@birmingham-chamber.com.