A shortlist of bidders has been announced for the operation and maintenance of a mass transit system at the new HS2 Interchange station at Solihull in the West Midlands.

The successful bidder will be required to work with HS2 Ltd to deliver an Automated People Mover (APM) and maintain its cable system operation for 25 years.

The shortlist now has two bidders who will be invited to tender:

• Doppelmayr Cable Car UK Limited
• POMA S.A.S

The people mover will have four stops that connect the Interchange station, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham International Station, and Birmingham Airport.

It will initially accommodate a minimum of 2,100 people per hour in each direction, but have provision for 3,900 people. End-to-end journey time will be six minutes.

The people mover will cross the M42 motorway and West Coast Main Line and will be built on a viaduct with piers ranging from six to 14 metres in height supported by structural columns 40 metres apart.

A maintenance facility will be built next to the Interchange Station.

Market engagement to design and build the people mover’s infrastructure is due to start later this year, with pre-qualification of potential tenderers due in the second quarter of 2025.

Two Contracts will be awarded to a single supplier:

• design, supply, integration, installation, testing, commissioning, and delivery into service;
• operation of the Automated People Mover and the wider asset management for up to 25 years, subject to break rights.

It is estimated that the Supply and Installation Contract will cost up to £65m, which includes the vehicles and APM systems (platform screen doors, vehicle control system, traction power supply, vehicle guidance system, vehicle traction and braking system and the systems/equipment and tools necessary for maintenance of the APM systems).

The Service Contract covers the operation and maintenance of the complete system for 25 years with an estimated value of up to £204m.

Andrew Cubitt, HS2’s Procurement and Supply Chain Director said: We’re delighted to announce the shortlisted bidders, which takes us a step closer to delivering this vital connectivity boost to the HS2 network.

This clean, green, transport solution will prove invaluable to the millions of people that will use it for onward business and leisure travel, or to access the excellent variety of events and entertainment on offer at the NEC and Resorts World.

Sean Butler, HS2’s Senior Project Manager for the Automated People Mover said: We’re progressing towards appointing the APM system and service contractor that will work with HS2 to deliver this vital piece of infrastructure, which provides a huge boost to Solihull MBC, Birmingham Airport and the NEC Group s growth plans.

Reaching this major step in the project plan is testament to the collaboration and dedication of every one of our partners for whom the APM is so vital.