HS2 Ltd has invited six bidders to tender for Advanced Civil Works (ACWs), a major two-part enabling works contract for a new section of the high-speed rail network extending from the West Midlands to Crewe.

The following bidders have been invited to tender for the contracts, which will deliver ‘critical preparatory works along the recently approved Phase 2a section of HS2’: BAM Construction Ltd; Galliford Try Construction Ltd; John Graham Construction Ltd; Kier Construction Ltd; Laing O’Rourke Construction Ltd; and Skanska Construction Ltd.

Activity will include: land assembly; environmental mitigation; establishment of haul routes and site compounds; and preparing the trace of the line. These will enable rapid mobilisation and the start of Main Civils Works in Summer 2024.

The base price £240 million contract splits work along the route into two separate packages, with one contractor delivering the works on the northern sections and a separate contractor delivering works for the southern sections. Work is due to begin in Autumn 2022.

That said, given the similarity of scope for the north and south contracts, bidders must bid for both contracts but will not be able to win both packages ‘for capacity and resilience reasons’.

Ruth Todd, HS2 Ltd’s chief commercial officer, said: “Our announcement today marks another significant step forward in delivery of the next phase of Britain’s high-speed railway, which will provide low-carbon transport for millions of people.

“Extending the Phase 2a route to Crewe will support 6,500 construction jobs and deliver new infrastructure that frees up capacity on the West Coast railway and shortens journey times.”