The major construction work is expected to begin on the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway to the Hyperloop in the UK in 2018.
Much vaunted by the government and its supporters, the train link is intended to slash journey times and strengthen rail capacity between London, Manchester and Leeds.
The construction costs for the project are estimated to be in the region of £56billion, with the first phase of the railway set to open in 2026; full completion is in the diary for 2033.
In November, there are about five companies were also shortlisted to manufacture trains for the new line in United Kingdom.
Siemens, Alstom, Hitachi Rail Europe, Bombardier Transportation and Spain’s Patentes Talgo have made the list of bidders for the contract, reported to be worth £2.75bn.
The groups have been invited to tender in early 2018, with contracts to be awarded in 2019.
However, the budget for the project remains mixed, with some voicing concerns the line may have a negative impact on surrounding wildlife and displace homeowners presently in its path.
With work now set to start on clearing the route, bridges and tunnels, such issues aren’t likely to dissipate in the coming months.
