New Factory To Produce HS2 Tunnel Sections

A new factory is to be constructed in Hartlepool, making concrete tunnel sections for the HS2 project.

The new facility will be built on the site of an old oil rig fabrication plant at Hartlepool dock, creating 100 jobs in the process. When it gets up and running, it will make the concrete sections for the tunnels running under west London between the station at Old Oak Common and Green Parkway.

The contract for the tunnel parts was awarded to STRABAG by the Costain Skanska STRABAG joint venture, the main civils work contractor for HS2. 

HS2 minister Andrew Stephenson 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.”

Ratchet strap suppliers will find their wares in big demand to transport the new sections from Hartlepool to London, as there will be no less than 36,000 of them.  

Indeed, the supply chain will be heavily involved in this part of the project, with H2’s announcement highlighting the extra jobs that could be created for them. Mr Stephenson also focused on this, noting that companies in 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 could be one of a number built across the country to supply concrete tunnel sections for the HS2 project, as the lines will not just run underground beneath west London.

Giant boring machines are currently tunnelling under the Chilterns to ensure the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is not disrupted by the line, while shorter tunnels will be built in the Midlands where the line approaches Birmingham.

Later phases of the project will also include significant tunnels, with these running under Crewe town centre and south Manchester.