Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to include fibre ducting along the route of HS2 (Phase One) line to ensure uninterrupted digital connectivity for passengers.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
HS2 (Phase One) is planning to provide uninterrupted digital connectivity for its passengers. The methodology of delivering this service to the train is currently in design phase and is yet to be decided, however the service will make use of a trackside optical fibre network to be installed along the HS2 line of route.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 23 May (HL7911), what discussions they have had with contractors about the need to ensure that fencing along the HS2 Phase One line is (1) stock proof to enable agricultural use to continue along the line post-opening, and (2) of sufficient quality to prevent domestic animals and wildlife from accessing the line.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
HS2 Ltd has been working with the main works civil contractors to develop Phase One scheme designs which will continue until the end of 2018 when it expects to agree construction plans for the new high-speed railway and ancillary works such as fencing.
HS2 Ltd’s technical standard for fencing requires that temporary and permanent fencing shall be stock-proofed where appropriate, and this shall take account of the anticipated livestock loading on the fencing and its foundations.
The security fencing around the entire railway, designed to prevent unauthorised access, will also act as a barrier for domestic animals and many species of wildlife.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which contractors are going to install and maintain the railway security and boundary fences along the HS2 Phase One line.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The fencing during the construction period of HS2 Phase One will be installed by the Main Works Civils Contractors, SCS JV, Align JV, EK JV and BBV JV. They will be responsible for the installation and maintenance throughout the programmed works. The long term maintenance post opening will be carried out by the Infrastructure Manager.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have finalised plans and construction specifications for the earthworks and fencing associated with the construction of the HS2 Phase One line.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
HS2 Ltd has been working with main work civil contractors to develop scheme designs and the construction programme for the line of route works on Phase One. Scheme Design will continue until the end of 2018 when HS2 Ltd expects to agree construction plans and programmes with the main works contractors, with a view to commencing construction works in 2019. Enabling works will continue throughout 2018.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to mitigate the potential disruption to wildlife caused by the construction of the HS2 Phase One line.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
HS2 has been designed with a view to avoiding or reducing impacts on habitats and species. Where avoidance is not possible, mitigation and compensation to address effects on legally protected wildlife includes relocating species and providing replacement habitat.
For example, underpasses and green bridges will provide safe crossing points for bats and other wildlife. Compensation for great crested newts will include replacement ponds, habitat and hibernation features. Many of the first works now underway for the railway involve the creation of such replacement habitats for wildlife.
Measures such as these will contribute to HS2’s overall aim of achieving “no net loss” in biodiversity as a consequence of building the railway.