HS2 HIGH-SPEED LINE TO BIRMINGHAM

The project

We are building a 90 km section of the high-speed line between London and Birmingham – the largest rail construction project the UK has seen in decades.

The solution

We worked on the design, construction methods, works schedule and contract for this line that will shorten travel times between many cities in the UK.

The challenge

The original plan was to use quarried materials for all the backfill. To preserve natural resources, and at the same time avoid an endless procession of trucks travelling back and forth, we suggested improving the mechanical properties of the materials already available on site with a lime-based treatment and optimised dosages.

Environment

Our challenge was to reduce the project’s carbon footprint by 50%. We achieved this highly ambitious target by optimising our designs (foundations, engineering structures and earthworks), and by focusing our efforts on materials (very-low-carbon concrete, recycled steel and reusing materials available on site), equipment and transport.

Other initiatives, including our proprietary machinery management app Linaster and eco-driving training, are also helping to shrink the project’s carbon footprint. In addition to reducing its CO2 emissions, this project is showing the way for preserving biodiversity during design as well as construction.