The value of a national approach to HS2
July 06, 2021Progress continues to be made on the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail link between Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and London. For many years, the London-focused development has raised concerns for a number of reasons. Writing for Transportation Professional magazine, Adrian Marsh, Director of RSK Environment, discusses why instead of focusing on just the capital, the new HS2 service needs to connect Britain as a whole.
Describing the Y-shaped plan for the network, Adrian highlights that the traditional costโbenefit analysis of the project has โbuilt-in biasโ towards the more affluent areas of the country. Such a strategy offers โno unifying visionโ for an integrated public transport network based around high-speed, long-distance rail services between sustainable multimodal local transport hubs. Now, however, 20 years since the project was first conceived, Adrian emphasises that the scheme has the opportunity to take a new direction and approach. The developmentโs planning pillars, previously focused on โpredict and provideโ and modal segregation, now look towards a โlow carbon, modal integration and levelling upโ framework that offers the potential to change the narrative of HS2.
With such significant investment already made in the project, Adrian notes that it is important now to ensure that the new network offers genuine benefits. As the HS2 services are already expected to extend north to cities such as Glasgow and Liverpool, Adrian sees value in transforming the Y into an X. A network that links Swansea, Cardiff and south-western England via upgraded existing infrastructure connecting Bristol and Cheltenham to HS2 at Birmingham will offer increased scope for levelling up. Reaching all corners of the nation with an โefficient, high-speed rail serviceโ will provide benefits to areas beyond London. Focus will be shifted away from the areas that often receive big value investment towards those that are in need of increased services and infrastructure.
As Adrian concludes, the most important change in approach of the HS2 project would be that โthe centre of gravity of our high speed networkโ will shift to โthe centre of Britainโ. This will offer improved opportunities to level up and a potentially valuable service for the whole country.
Members of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) can read Adrianโs article in full in Transportation Professional magazine.
๐ณ๏ธโ๐ RSK is proud to stand alongside members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
๐ People deserve to be their authentic selves and love freely without fear.
You can read Graeme and Abigail's full stories next week in RSK insights. Keep an eye on our social media for more information.
#rskfamily #pride #pridemonth #loveislove #lgbtq
๐ธ #selfiesonsite ๐คณ
Ryan Dunderdale, Senior Surveyor at Central Alliance, providing technical support and on-site training to datum plate install teams down in Bristol.
Want to join our team? View our latest opportunities ๐ www.rskgroup.com/careers
#RSKgroup #behindthescenes #meettheteam #RSKfamily #RSKonsite #engineering #construction
๐ In the June edition of our #employeespotlight, we spoke with with Rosie Pearce at Stephenson Halliday and Carmen Snowdon at WRc Group to find out about their recent achievements ๐
๐ Congratulations to you both!
Click the link in our bio to find out more!
#rskfamily #employeeapprecitation #team #landscapeinstitute #instituteofwater #architecture
"If you donโt feel valued, represented and respected in your workplace, then inevitably your #wellbeing will suffer.โ
๐ In our latest edition of #ADayInTheLife, we spoke with Ellen Lapworth-Maisey, Wellbeing, #Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at RSK โ a fascinating position that helps to create an inclusive and empowering #culture for all RSK staff.
Click the link in bio to learn more!
#RSKGroup #RSKfamily #diversity #inclusion #mentalhealth
๐ธ #selfiesonsite ๐คณ
Some pictures of the Envireau Water staff on site.
Want to join our team? View our latest opportunities ๐ www.rskgroup.com/careers
#RSKgroup #behindthescenes #meettheteam #RSKfamily #RSKonsite #waterindustry #construction
๐ถ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐
#RSKSteps came to an end on Tuesday 31 May after a month of stepping adventures.
๐๐ป ๐ป๐๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐:
โ๏ธ1449 participants
โ๏ธ332,268,416 steps
โ๏ธยฃ1500 raised for our chosen charity, MIND!
Read more about this fantastic challenge in our bio!
#RSKGroup #RSKfamily #wellbeing #health #mentalhealth #walking
#RSKEvents
๐ Join Dirk Van Look and Chris Hughes on our webinar all about #PFAS โ perfluoroalkyl substances, which are both human-made and known to be harmful to humans.
๐ก We will showcase real-life examples to demonstrate how RSK is responding and developing capabilities to assess these emerging #contaminants.
Find out more and register now in our bio!
#RSKGroup #RSKfamily #PFAScontaminants #foreverchemicals #chemicals
๐ In light of #PrideMonth, we are sharing information about how to become a better ally. #Pride offers a sense of solidarity and a platform for expression.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming posts!
#RSKGroup #rskfamily #LGBT #LGBTQ+ #inclusion #diversity #LGBTally #Pride2022
๐ข RSK is pleased to announce it has further expanded its presence in Ireland by acquiring one of the most reputable tree care companies in the country.
๐ณ Dermot Casey Tree Care was founded in the 1970s by Managing Director Dermot Casey and is one of the most highly regarded tree surgery companies in Ireland, with more than 50 years of experience.
Find out more in our bio!
#RSKGroup #RSKfamily #treecare #landscape #treesurgery #landscaping #nature