High Speed 2
What will the High Speed 2 operations model look like? Not a rerun of HS1 with separate companies responsible for track and trains, judging by comments from Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.
Updating Parliament on 27 March about arrangements for the West Coast Partnership, the Government’s attempt to slot together the existing West Coast franchise franchise run by Stagecoach/Virgin and all-new HS2 operations, the Secretary of State revealed that vertical integration of track and trains for HS2 is under consideration. While his comments coincided with publication of the 293-page West Coast Partnership invitation to tender (not including annexes), it appears the Government has yet to decide on a definitive HS2 operating model.
So what do we know about the complex transition from the West Coast of today to the HS2 plus reorganised West Coast of tomorrow? If all goes to plan the new contract begins in one and a bit years – the Department for Transport wants the West Coast Partnership franchise to begin on 15 September 2019. We can then split future HS2/West Coast operations into three distinct stages.
From December 2019 to December 2026 the winning bidder carries on running existing West Coa…
