Central 1 (C1) Section of HS2 Phase 1

United Kingdom

Noise, vibration, and air quality services for high speed rail infrastructure

High Speed 2 (HS2) is a new high-speed railway line currently under construction in the United Kingdom between London and Birmingham, making the track approximately 225 kilometers (140 miles) long.

Photos

Hs2 Construction In Birmingham Aerial Shutterstock 2351679981
HS2 construction in Birmingham. Image source: Shutterstock.

Services provided

  • The Challenge

    As one of Europe’s biggest construction projects, Phase 1 of HS2 was anticipated to require close environmental management to ensure compliance with its commitments. As part of that, the Section 61 (Control of Pollution Act 1974) consents programme needed to be dynamic to enable works to proceed as required whilst ensuring the pre-requisite protection to the community and other stakeholders from construction noise, vibration, and dust. RWDI was commissioned to provide noise, vibration, and air quality services to the Main Works Civil Contractor (MWCC) for the early Stage 1 of this section of the project.

  • The Approach

    RWDI’s team of noise, vibration, and dust experts:

    • Advised on various strategies & regulatory requirements, including and related to Section 61 consents; Parliamentary Undertakings and Assurances (U&As); compliance with the project’s Environmental Minimum Requirements (EMRs); various project Information Papers relevant to construction noise & vibration; and stakeholder engagement issues (including NI/TRH & Special Case status).
    • Prepared Section 61 consents and negotiated consent conditions on behalf of the client.
    • Represented the contractor at stakeholder and community engagement sessions.
    • Provided input to the management teams on offers of noise insulation, temporary re-housing, and U&A / EMR compliance.
    • Led engagement with regulatory authorities and liaised with the beneficiaries of the project’s Special Case provisions, including highly acoustically sensitive assets.
    • Installed and maintained noise, vibration, and air quality monitoring systems.
    • Prepared monthly noise, vibration, and air quality monitoring reports to maintain compliance with HS2 standards and protocols for each local authority.
    • Conducted extensive noise and vibration monitoring to verify source sound power levels, ensure compliance with Section 61 applications, and develop empirical propagation models for vibration.

  • The Outcome

    The MWCC was confidently able to proceed with its preferred programme of works during Stage 1 with the knowledge that the required consents had been obtained on time, compliance with the project’s commitments had been assured at each point, and long-term continuous noise, vibration, and air quality monitoring systems were implemented and functional in accordance with the project’s specifications.