The UK 2070 Commission has produced a report that calls on the government to Go Big, Go Local. The report highlights how only a balanced growth plan, a New Deal for Levelling Up is likely to deliver greater prosperity without having damaging environmental and social consequences. Greengauge 21 produced the UK’s 2070 Transport Infrastructure Read more…
Our latest report makes the case for putting rail at the heart of a green post-pandemic economic recovery. Building back better – the green case for rail investment after the pandemic has been developed in partnership with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), and calls for a major investment in high Read more…
Sustainability and resilience have never been more important in transport infrastructure than now. The ambition for a megaproject such as HS2 has always been to build the most sustainable railway of its type in the world. Representing companies with relevant experience and an interest in high speed rail, the High Speed Rail Group is acutely aware of the challenges to industry that the government’s net zero carbon target brings. As part of its commitment to managing carbon footprint, HS2 has also set ambitious targets for its supply chain to minimise the whole life carbon emissions of its assets including buildings. For stations this includes achieving net zero carbon in operation for regulated emissions and achieving a 50 per cent reduction in whole life carbon emissions against a baseline for a typical station.
Arup has produced a design for HS2’s new Interchange station, to be built near Solihull and the NEC in the West Midlands. The station will be one of the best-connected places in the UK, with customers (more…)
Although the Coronavirus crisis has been dominating the headlines, environmental challenges have not gone away. The warm weather that is lifting spirits is also leading scientists to predict that 2020 will be the hottest year on record. Indeed, after the lockdown had already started, the DfT launched a radical consultation to inform its Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP). Calling for less car use and making public transport the first choice for daily travel, it represents a huge change from decades of previous policy.
It is important for HS2 now to rise to this opportunity. In her most recent report, Sadie Morgan, the chair of HS2’s independent design panel, called for more evidence and communication on how net zero is driving HS2 Ltd’s decision-making, calling for action from board level to those working on site. Professor Morgan also sits on the National Infrastructure Commission, which is undertaking a Rail Needs Assessment for the Midlands and the North. Clearly making the carbon case will be important for securing approval for Phase 2b and beyond.
The big challenge here is (more…)
HS2 – towards a zero carbon future examines the carbon case for HS2 – considering its impacts from construction, operation and modal shift. We are pleased to have commissioned this report, as an independent review of the carbon case for HS2, a subject which is largely being overlooked in the Read more…
A joint venture between Mace and Dragados has secured the construction at Euston station with a bid of around £1.3bn. As part of the wider Euston station area development Lendlease is drawing up a masterplan that could support up to 14,000 new jobs and almost 4,000 new homes, as well as Read more…
HS2 Ltd has published the first images of the Old Oak Common station design in west London. The new high speed station will be part of phase one of the project between London and Birmingham, and will be the first stop on the line’s for trains starting at the southern terminus at Read more…
Rail has long been at the heart of UK transport infrastructure and by the time the first HS2 service comes into operation it will have been over 200 years since the first public railway opened in Britain. High Speed Rail however offers the opportunity to completely rethink station design in Read more…