HS2 Ltd is seeking feedback from the professional services market on a proposed 10-year partnering arrangement that would support the remaining stages of the High Speed 2 programme. The preliminary market engagement is intended to understand how the industry could support HS2 over a long-term period and how potential contracts should be structured. HS2 has indicated that the arrangements would cover professional services required as the programme moves through its next phases.

The proposed arrangement is particularly significant because HS2 is moving beyond its earlier focus on major civil engineering works and towards the railway systems, integration, testing and commissioning required to bring the railway into operation. The potential 10-year period is expected to provide continuity of professional expertise across the programme rather than requiring HS2 to repeatedly procure separate short-term consultancy packages. A reported proposed contract period would run from 1 October 2027 to 30 September 2037. The professional services requirement is expected to span several broad areas. These include project and programme management, technical and engineering services, and commercial delivery. The scope could therefore involve disciplines such as construction and project management, engineering, cost and commercial consultancy, environmental assessment and telecommunications-related expertise. The precise scope and packaging of the work has not yet been finalised, with HS2 using the market engagement exercise to test its assumptions with potential suppliers.

Other topics under consideration include innovation, digital delivery, artificial intelligence, data and systems integration, as well as approaches to ensuring effective collaboration across a multi-supplier environment. The market engagement process is expected to take place in several stages, potentially involving supplier briefings, questionnaires, roundtable discussions and one-to-one meetings. Interested organisations are required to formally register their interest by 5 pm on 21 August 2026. The engagement deadline is 9 October 2026. The potential professional services package is expected to cover a broad range of disciplines, including project and construction management, cost and procurement consultancy, civil and railway engineering, transport systems consultancy, infrastructure works consultancy, environmental impact assessment, architectural and engineering design, surveying, telecommunications consultancy, archaeological services, urban planning and landscape architecture.

HS2 Ltd describes HS2 as Britain’s new high-speed rail line. Once completed, the project is expected to significantly reduce journey times between London Euston and Birmingham, with the journey potentially taking around 49 minutes, almost half the current travel time. HS2 also envisages services continuing northwards via the existing rail network to destinations such as Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.