HS2 has named the teams that will deliver the high-speed rail project’s track, signalling, communications and other systems.

The £3bn ‘rail systems’ contracts mark the beginning of a new stage for the project, that will see almost 140 miles of tunnels, bridges and earthworks between London and the West Midlands transformed into an operational railway.

Over the coming years, the successful companies will first design and then install around 280 miles of track capable of speeds of up to 225mph (360km/h) as well as power supplies and signalling equipment required for the safe operation of the railway.

A vast network of optical fibre cabling will form the railway’s central nervous system – providing signalling and communications for staff and passengers.

Laid out end-to-end, these cables would stretch for more than 1,200 miles.

The contracts, which are collectively worth around £3bn, are expected to support tens of thousands of jobs across the UK.

The main rail systems contractors will be brought together under a collaborative Rail Systems Alliance structure designed to manage the interfaces between them and resolve any conflicts in the programme.

All members will collaborate on design, access, resources and logistics to achieve common goals for cost and schedule.

The initial design stage of the work will run parallel with the completion of the civil engineering – which is currently at its peak - so that the rail systems contractors are ready to mobilise to site as soon as the civils are complete.

Contracts will be signed after the statutory 10-day standstill period.

The three track systems lots have been secured by the Ferrovial Construction/BAM Nuttall joint venture.

Ferrovial BAM will oversee the design and construction of the HS2 track infrastructure, manage construction logistics and support the testing and commissioning phase. They will act as principal contractor for works associated with the trace and be responsible for logistics and consents co-ordination.

The work covers the route from Old Oak Common to the terminus at Birmingham Curzon Street.

It includes the design and construction of the Infrastructure Maintenance Depot at Calvert, the interface with Washwood Heath Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot and the permanent connection to the existing rail network at Handsacre Junction.

Switches and crossings and pre-cast slab track forming the HS2 track system will be delivered through existing contracts with Voestalpine and PORR UK – with the track systems contractor coordinating the design, logistics and installation. Rail will be supplied through Network Rail.

The contract for the Overhead Catenary Systems (OCS) is going to Colas Rail, which will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the OCS.

Siemens Mobility will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, safety authorisation, testing, commissioning and initial maintenance of the operational telecommunication systems and the route wide security systems.

Spare capacity on the optical fibre network could also be sold to third party providers to help boost broadband access for more isolated rural communities.

Siemens Mobility has also secured the contract for command, control, signalling and traffic management (CCS&TM) and for the digital engineering management system.

A joint venture of Hitachi Rail GTS UK and Telent Technology Services Limited - TTJV - will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, safety authorisation, testing, commissioning and initial maintenance of the systems, which will provide the mobile communications for customers to use, as well as the emergency services and the station data network.

A separate contract to deliver the Washwood Heath depot and Network Integrated Control Centre, will be awarded next year.