The contracts to design and construct bridges, tunnels, embankments and viaducts for the London to Birmingham high speed rail line, HS2 First Phase, have been awarded. The winning bidders to build the first phase - London to the West Midlands - are:

Area South

S1: Euston Tunnels and Approaches – SCS JV (Skanska Construction UK Ltd, Costain Ltd, STRABAG AG)

S2: Northolt Tunnels – SCS JV (Skanska Construction UK Ltd, Costain Ltd, STRABAG AG)

Area Central

C1: Chiltern Tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct – Align JV (Bouygues Travaux Publics, VolkerFitzpatrick, Sir Robert McAlpine)

C2: North Portal Chiltern Tunnels to Brackley – CEK JV (Carillion Construction Ltd, Eiffage Genie Civil SA, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Ltd)

C3: Brackley to South Portal of Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel – CEK JV (Carillion Construction Ltd, Eiffage Genie Civil SA, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Ltd)

Area North

N1: Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel to Delta Junction and Birmingham Spur – BBV JV (Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, VINCI Construction Grands Projets, VINCI Construction UK Ltd, VINCI Construction Terrassement)

N2: Delta Junction to WCML Tie-In – BBV JV (Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, VINCI Construction Grands Projets, VINCI Construction UK Ltd, VINCI Construction Terrassement)

The total value of these contracts including both Stage 1 and Stage 2 (the full construction phase) is £6.6 billion. Stage 2 will commence in 2019.Preparatory works are already underway, with main construction work starting in 2018/19 following a period of detailed design work. The route will be opened in 2026. Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/main-civil-engineering-works-contracts-for-stage-1-of-hs2-phase-one. 29/17.