{"id":47489,"date":"2014-09-11T12:21:49","date_gmt":"2014-09-11T12:21:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=6673cb00f2d32e1e363c90b19c4a091c"},"modified":"2014-09-11T12:21:49","modified_gmt":"2014-09-11T12:21:49","slug":"speech-who-will-build-hs2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=47489","title":{"rendered":"Speech: Who will build HS2?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Good morning.<\/p>\n

It is fantastic to be back at the Institute for Civil Engineers and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Begg and Transport Times for organising today\u2019s (11 September 2014) conference.<\/p>\n

Looking at the agenda for today\u2019s event, I\u2019m sure the discussion is going to be just as incisive as the contents of the magazine.<\/p>\n

After the deepest recession in our peacetime history, the economy is growing once again.<\/p>\n

Business investment is increasing.<\/p>\n

And unemployment is falling.<\/p>\n

But the global economy is changing.<\/p>\n

Partly as a result, demand for transport is increasing.<\/p>\n

For example, businesses increasingly rely on just-in-time delivery to keep costs down and people are commuting longer distances than in the past.<\/p>\n

So when businesses are deciding where to invest or people are deciding where to live the reliability and the extent of the transport connections nearby are absolutely critical.<\/p>\n

Good rail connections are a vital part of that mix.<\/p>\n

The good news is that, since privatisation, Britain\u2019s railways have been a huge success story.<\/p>\n

From an industry that once was thought to be in terminal decline.<\/p>\n

Today the railway carries more people than ever before and huge amounts more freight.<\/p>\n

And the projections are that demand will increase further over the coming years.<\/p>\n

By 2026 peak demand will be 2 and a half times the capacity at Euston, twice the capacity at Birmingham New Street, and nearly twice the capacity at Manchester Piccadilly.<\/p>\n

That is why, as part of our long term economic plan, we are investing \u00a338 billion over Control Period 5 to improve and expand our existing railway.<\/p>\n

And it is why, in just 3 years\u2019 time, we will start building High Speed 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

HS2<\/abbr> will provide the capacity required to move the people and goods that will be needed in the future.<\/p>\n

And it will provide the connectivity that\u2019s needed – particularly for the great cities in the north – to grow and thrive.<\/p>\n

As today\u2019s organisers have suggested, the debate on HS2<\/abbr> is moving on from whether it should happen to how we deliver the project in a way which is a credit to the UK.<\/p>\n

I am pleased to say that there is a broad political consensus behind HS2<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

When the hybrid bill for the first phase of HS2<\/abbr><\/a> was before Parliament in April we had a resounding victory: 452 votes in favour and just 41 against.<\/p>\n

But that doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019ve stopped listening to those with concerns about the railway.<\/p>\n

Building a project of this scale will affect a large number of people and we need to consider their concerns very carefully.<\/p>\n

Now the bill is in the committee phase, where – quite rightly – MPs will carefully consider our plans and hear from those with concerns.<\/p>\n

We received just under 2,000 petitions in total, though some of those have since been withdrawn or removed.<\/p>\n

We are making good progress through the bill committee process and have already managed to address a number of the concerns people have raised.<\/p>\n

We will keep listening and where we can make the bill better, we will do so.<\/p>\n

But we will also keep up our momentum.<\/p>\n

We will keep the process moving forward.<\/p>\n

An important milestone will be setting out our plans for the redevelopment of Euston.<\/p>\n

The Secretary of State has asked HS2<\/abbr> Ltd to look again at the plans for Euston as we believe they could be more ambitious.<\/p>\n

I was asked to consider how HS2<\/abbr> can be delivered in a way which is a credit to the UK.<\/p>\n

When you think about that, you recall that some places have become a byword for quality.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s Switzerland for watches, Wimbledon for tennis, or Yorkshire for cricket or indeed just about anything!<\/p>\n

Well, we want HS2<\/abbr> to make Britain synonymous with world class high speed rail.<\/p>\n

For that to happen, I think we need to do 3 things.<\/p>\n

First, we need to build HS2<\/abbr> on time.<\/p>\n

Second, we need to build it on budget.<\/p>\n

And, as Sir David Higgins has said, the best way to do that is to get on with the job.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this country has had an ignominious tradition of dithering and delay when it comes to major infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n

But, thanks to many people in this room, that\u2019s changing.<\/p>\n

Take just 2 recent examples.<\/p>\n

Reading station.<\/p>\n

A vital artery, one of the busiest on the network outside of London.<\/p>\n

Rebuilt on budget and a year ahead of schedule while keeping the station open and without compromising on safety.<\/p>\n

You may have seen that Her Majesty the Queen opened the new Reading station.<\/p>\n

Just as she also recently opened the Heathrow\u2019s new Terminal 2.<\/p>\n

Her Majesty actually opened Reading station when it was last rebuilt in 1989.<\/p>\n

Just as she opened the last Terminal 2.<\/p>\n

So I\u2019m very pleased to say, that Her Majesty\u2019s actually outlasting the infrastructure!<\/p>\n

As well as Reading, there\u2019s also Crossrail.<\/p>\n

A \u00a315 billion investment in the country\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

Now some people worry that they are their own worst critic.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

But then not everyone has the luxury of the Public Accounts Committee\u2019s (PAC<\/abbr>\u2019s) watchful eye.<\/p>\n

Now we all know that Margaret Hodge and the Public Accounts Committee are not the government\u2019s biggest cheerleaders.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I was delighted that, according to the PAC<\/abbr>, Crossrail is not only an example of world-class engineering it is also an example of \u2018textbook\u2019 project management that \u2018is on course to deliver value for money to the taxpayer\u2019.<\/p>\n

The third thing that is needed to make HS2<\/abbr> a credit to the UK, is for it to be of the highest quality.<\/p>\n

We mean it when we say we want it to make the country proud.<\/p>\n

Like Gresley\u2019s Mallard, McAlpine\u2019s Glenfinnan viaduct and Barlow\u2019s train shed at St Pancras we want HS2<\/abbr> to show what Great British design and engineering can achieve.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean a blank cheque.<\/p>\n

We are very conscious of the need to protect taxpayers\u2019 investment.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why we are determined to deliver a railway that provides real and lasting value for money but not to pinch the pennies.<\/p>\n

Just a couple of years ago, this country showed the world how to stage an Olympic games.<\/p>\n

If you have a moment later do take a look at the paintings in the caf\u00e9 bar and lower foyer of this building.<\/p>\n

They have a series of pictures commissioned by the Institute that show the major construction and infrastructure projects that were needed for the success of London 2012.<\/p>\n

The London Olympics became a badge of honour for those that were involved.<\/p>\n

And we want the people and businesses who will build HS2<\/abbr> to be just as proud of their work.<\/p>\n

And we want being involved with HS2<\/abbr> to establish their reputation for quality overseas.<\/p>\n

HS2<\/abbr> is a huge project.<\/p>\n

Our most up to date estimates indicate that while HS2<\/abbr> is being built it will create around 25,000 full-time equivalent construction and maintenance jobs, excluding jobs in the supply chain.<\/p>\n

HS2<\/abbr> have listened to you and have developed their outline procurement strategy as a result of your feedback.<\/p>\n

They will shortly be setting out how they are going to approach the market and will give you an indication of when you will see work packages.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll also be setting out their position on joint ventures and alliancing.<\/p>\n

Businesses will be able to win well over \u00a310 billion of contracts to help HS2<\/abbr> Ltd deliver Phase One of Britain\u2019s new high speed railway.<\/p>\n

Part of the challenge will be ensuring that you have the people with the skills that are needed.<\/p>\n

Crossrail has shown the benefits of investing in training.<\/p>\n

There are over 400 new apprentices in trades and professions from construction to accountancy and quantity surveying to business administration.<\/p>\n

We want to use HS2<\/abbr> to build the long term skills base of the country.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I was delighted that Terry Morgan is advising us on the creation of the new high speed rail college<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It will equip the engineers of the future with the skills they need.<\/p>\n

Ensuring UK firms have the people and the reputation that comes from building a world class railway to successfully compete for the 30,000 kilometres of high speed rail that are planned or under construction around the world.<\/p>\n

Last week I met Steve Scrimshaw and I know Siemens are keen for their new national training academy for rail to become to a spoke to the high speed rail college hub.<\/p>\n

I think that\u2019s a great example of how Siemens and the rest of Britain\u2019s rail industry is leading the way investing to improve skills and creating good jobs.<\/p>\n

If you want to find out more about the \u00a310 billion of supply chain opportunities that are coming with HS2<\/abbr> the next HS2<\/abbr> supply chain conference will take place in London on 17 October and Manchester on 23 October.<\/p>\n

When visitors from overseas come to Britain, they often remark on the quality of our rail heritage.<\/p>\n

And I think it is something we are quite rightly proud of in this country.<\/p>\n

We want HS2<\/abbr> to make people come here to admire Britain\u2019s rail future.<\/p>\n

For it to be something that showcases just what Britain can do.<\/p>\n

And we want it to establish the reputation of the people who build it.<\/p>\n

That means it needs to be delivered on time and on budget and for it to be an example of world class design and engineering.<\/p>\n

My ambition is for that to happen.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure it is yours too.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s get on with the job.<\/p>\n

And build a brilliant railway.<\/p>\n

Thank you for listening.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How to deliver HS2 in a way which is a credit to the UK.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47489"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47489"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47489\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=47489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=47489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}