The National Audit Office (NAO) report makes clear the plan the incoming Labour government is inheriting – a truncated HS2, and a West Coast Main Line operating at capacity – is not going to help  grow the national economy, nor is it going to allow train performance on the West Coast to return to acceptable levels. A line which fails to reach central London, and which worsens the bottleneck north of Birmingham is an inheritance that needs amendment. High speed rail is essential to increasing capacity across our transport networks. Yet this report shows that current plans would cause the W ..read more

We spoke to Alessio Palmiero, a Human Resources Apprentice with Ferrovial working with the EKFB Joint Venture. Can you describe your role in a few words? Very fun and enjoyable. What were you doing prior to your Apprenticeship? Working as a paint sprayer and working in a pub when I was free. What was your perception of the sector before you started your apprenticeship? My perception was that it is something new that really intrigues me. What interested you in joining Ferrovial? I thought the company would provide me with a new challenge. What are the key things you’ve learnt so far in your jo ..read more

We spoke to Evie Bracher, a Project Manager Apprentice with Alstom, who has recently joined our High Speed Rail Apprentice Network. Can you describe your role in a few words? My job role is to manage projects from initiation to close out. This can involve updating project plans, ensuring milestones are met by motivating the project team to meet a common goal and making decisions on behalf of the team to ensure the best project outcome. What were you doing prior to your Apprenticeship? Studying A-Levels; Maths, English and Business. What was your perception of the sector before you started you ..read more

We spoke to Evie Wyatt, a Human Resources Apprentice with Kier, a partner in the EKFB Joint Venture, who has recently joined our High Speed Rail Apprentice Network.  Can you describe your role in a few words? I work with a variety of teams within the people function of the joint venture. What were you doing prior to your Apprenticeship? Working in electrical insurance operations. What was your perception of the sector before you started your apprenticeship? I thought the industry was very fast paced with lots of new and exciting things happening constantly. Being at the forefront of inno ..read more

We spoke to Saffiah Danso, a Human Resources Apprentice with EGCUK, who has recently joined our High Speed Rail Apprentice Network.  Can you describe your role in a few words? I assist in the delivery of multiple HR functions such as aiding the onboarding process, drafting and sending offers/contracts, handling probation reviews and much more on a daily basis. What were you doing prior to your Apprenticeship? Prior to my apprenticeship I had been working in the childcare industry for three years, in nurseries and holiday/activity centres. What was your perception of the sector before you ..read more

We spoke to Sinae Francis, a Human Resources Apprentice with BAM Nuttall, who has recently joined our High Speed Rail Apprentice Network via EKFB.  Can you describe your role in a few words? As a Human Resources (HR) Apprentice I support the Head of HR. This could be anything from general administrative support to the HR team, to employee record management to supporting HR initiatives like maintaining a positive workplace culture. The role is very varied which is what attracted me to it. What were you doing prior to your Apprenticeship? Working part time at McDonalds whilst looking for an ..read more

We are delighted to welcome Mark Wild to his new role as chief executive of HS2. His track record delivering Crossrail marks him out as outstanding candidate for the delivery of the project, which even with recent changes remains the most important infrastructure project in the UK. HS2 from London to Birmingham creates a platform to build the better connected Britain the country desperately needs for our future prosperity. We believe the next government should build on this with a clear long-term plan to address the rail capacity crunch north of Birmingham, transforming connectivity across the ..read more

We welcome the NIC’s latest Infrastructure Progress Review, which explicitly calls for a new long-term plan for rail to address capacity and connectivity issues on the network following the cancellation of HS2’s northern leg. Government’s failure to implement plans for HS2 that have carefully negotiated the Parliamentary approval process is inexplicable. It will hold the country back economically, hinder growth and widen region inequality. A coherent long term plan for rail investment, including new lines where they offer the best value for money, is needed to address capacity issues that aris ..read more

Our latest report states that a comprehensive long-term strategy to develop the UK’s inter urban rail network is essential for future economic growth and achieving net zero. The report urges political figures on all sides to look beyond HS2 and take a fresh approach in order to maximise the vast potential of high speed rail development in the UK. High Speed Rail Exploiting the Potential outlines five recommendations for the next Government which, if implemented, would deliver the new rail capacity and connectivity which the UK desperately needs to grow sustainably. From cancelling the section ..read more

Economic analysis of the areas close to HS2’s three hubs in the West Midlands – Curzon Street Station in central Birmingham, Interchange Station in Solihull, and the Washwood Heath Depot and Network Integrated Control Centre – shows dramatic increases in regeneration and investment in the last six years. Since Royal Assent was granted for the railway in 2017, the number of planning applications seen in a 1.5 mile radius around these three major HS2 hubs has increased by two-thirds. Over the same timescale, the area of total planned floorspace – including commercial and residential – has increa ..read more