Our Skanska Costain STRABAG JV, working to deliver HS2, has awarded a contract for producing precast tunnel segments in a new Hartlepool factory.
The landmark contract will see a new factory created on an old oil rig fabrication site in Hartlepool. It is the second such contract awarded for HS2’s London tunnels.
Our joint venture partner STRABAG will be providing 36,000 segments for the twin bored tunnels under London from HS2’s new Old Oak Common station to Green Parkway running beneath Northolt.
Located at Hartlepool Dock, owned and operated by PD Ports, the new facility will employ more than 100 people, creating new skilled jobs in the area. More new jobs could also be created and sustained by the additional supply chain contracts that will be available to support the manufacture and supply of the tunnel segments.
HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Jill Mortimer MP, joined representatives from HS2, STRABAG and PD Ports to celebrate the contract award.
HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson MP, said: “This landmark contract to build a new factory in Hartlepool to manufacture items for HS2 shows building back better in action, giving new life to a vacant site and bringing over 100 new skilled jobs to the area.
“Companies across the North East are already benefiting from being part of HS2’s vast supply chain, with 400,000 supply chain contract opportunities expected on Phase One alone.”
The new factory’s well-connected location, both by rail and sea, means it is well placed to be utilised beyond HS2, working on domestic and international projects.
James Richardson, Skanska Costain STRABAG JV’s Managing Director, said: “STRABAG’s Hartlepool and Pacadar’s Kent facilities are both key to the delivery of the HS2 tunnels in London. Tunnel segment rings will be produced in Hartlepool and loaded on to freight trains and delivered by rail to our newly opened Logistics Hub at Willesden Junction. These huge tunnel segments, each weighing seven tonnes, will be then transported to the tunnel boring machine. This is a game-changer in how we move forward in the construction industry and is a significant step towards net zero carbon emissions in transport."
HS2’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ruth Todd, said: “The award of this contract is another important milestone towards the start of HS2’s tunnelling operations in London. The decision to manufacture the segments not only in the UK, but in a new facility in the North East, is another demonstration of how HS2 is having a positive impact on regional economies across the UK and helping the country to build back better after the pandemic.”
Construction will begin in January 2022 and the production of the precast concrete tunnel segments will commence in December 2022. All 36,000 tunnel segments will be transported entirely by rail, with the first freight train delivery arriving at the Willesden logistics hub in April 2023.
The segments will be used to construct the tunnels and will be installed using two giant tunnel boring machines (TBMs).
This contract is the second of two for precast concrete tunnel segments for HS2’s London tunnels. Pacadar UK will be delivering 58,000 segments for the first London tunnel being constructed between West Ruislip and Green Park Way, in Ealing.