Three years after being mothballed, contractors set to be sounded out about HS2 Euston station build

The government has begun a scoping exercise to find private sector firms interested in building a new HS2 station at Euston.

In a preliminary market engagement note published last week, the Department for Transport said “it is intended that a private sector partner would be appointed under a design, build, finance and maintain (DBFM) model, with responsibilities including detailed design and construction of the HS2 Euston Station infrastructure, followed by on-going maintenance over a long-term contracted period”.

The scheme was mothballed by the former Tory government nearly three years ago but has widely been expected to be resurrected, given the current London terminus for the railway is at Old Oak Common in west London.

Under the current plan, described as a “shuttle service” by former National Infrastructure Commission chair John Armitt, passengers would have to get off at Old Oak Common and onto connecting services into the middle of the capital.

In last week’s note, the DfT said: “DfT is seeking to engage with the market at an early stage in the development of DBFM plans, to help test and shape an investable commercial proposition that effectively allocates risks while delivering value for money.”

Firms have until 18 February to express interest before a briefing document, complete with questionnaire, is sent out to would-be bidders which has to be returned by 4 March.

It added: “In this initial stage of preliminary market engagement, it is therefore anticipated that DfT will only hold one-to-one meetings or roundtable discussions with construction contractors, operations and maintenance providers, equity investors and debt providers who respond to the questionnaire.”

The Euston station scheme had been due to be built by a Mace/Dragados joint venture – the same pairing behind the new HS2 station at Birmingham Curzon Street.

The JV is still working on the Euston contract, given its client is HS2 Ltd, although the government will take over running of the Euston scheme given its brief will be wider than the HS2 station. This will include the conventional mainline station, upgrades to the London Underground interchange and commercial development around the site. It will be managed by the Euston Delivery Company, which is being set up by the DfT.

Other bidders for the Euston scheme, which the Mace team won in 2019 and was given an original contract value of £1.65bn, included Costain/Skanska and a pairing of Bam Nuttall and Spanish contractor Ferrovial.