HS2 Bill hands a great opportunity to Alstom firm
● ● A FIRM building a vast new rail technology centre and training academy in Widnes has welcomed the HS2 Bill being granted Royal Assent for a new high speed line.
Construction on the first phase of the new route between London and Birmingham will begin in the spring after three years of scrutiny in Parliament.
The project’s second phase envisages expanding the line from the West Midlands to Manchester and Leeds by 2033.
Alstom is currently building a £20m rail technology centre in Halebank, as well as a training academy at the site which could eventually employ up to 600 people and is due to open in May.
The company intends to bid on contracts for HS2.
Alstom UK & Ireland Nick Crossfield said: “We are currently building a £20m rail technology centre in Widnes that will allow us to build trains in Britain in the long-term.
“At the same site in Widnes we are also building a new rail academy, where we will train local people in the skills that are required to meet the engineering challenges of high speed rail, providing 15,000 training days a year.
“We are hugely excited by the opportunities that HS2 brings for the North West and will be engaging enthusiastically with the bidding process.”
He added: “At Alstom, we live and breathe high speed rail and it is clear to us that HS2 is the most important investment in Britain’s railways for over 100 years.
“It will bring huge benefits to passengers.
“But even more crucial is the legacy of skills, apprenticeships and jobs it will create, all over the country.”
A Department For Transport spokesman said HS2 will create around 25,000 jobs during construction as well as 2,000 apprenticeships and that it will also support growth in the ‘wider economy’ through an additional 100,000 jobs.
The initial phase between London and Birmingham is due to be complete by 2026.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Getting the go-ahead to start building HS2 is a massive boost to the UK’s future economic prosperity and a further clear signal that Britain is open for business.
“HS2 will be the world’s most advanced passenger railway and the backbone of our rail network.
“Royal Assent is a major step towards significantly increasing capacity on our congested railways for both passengers and freight; improving connections between the biggest cities and regions; generating jobs, skills and economic growth and helping build an economy that works for all.
“By investing in infrastructure the Government is seizing the opportunity provided by leaving the EU to build a more global Britain.
“We will now press ahead with constructing the railway.”