High-speed railway HS2 is inviting companies interested in delivering infrastructure for its elevated transport system in the West Midlands to take part in a market engagement exercise.

The system aims to boost HS2’s connectivity in the West Midlands, through using an Automated People Mover (APM). The APM will transport passengers to and from the new high-speed station in Solihull.

HS2 began its search for a contractor to carry out enabling works for the project late last year, and announced a shortlist of two companies in February.

The formal procurement process for the infrastructure work is due to launch in early 2026, and in preparation for that, HS2 is assessing the ability of global suppliers to deliver the APM, which it considers “pivotal” to its operation.

The elevated transport system will provide a link for passengers travelling between HS2’s Interchange Station, the rail network, Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and leisure complex Resorts World.

It will run on a viaduct that will be 2.4km long, and that will be held at a consistent level by a series of piers, each between six and fourteen metres high. The network will cross developed land and also the M42 motorway, the West Coast Mainline and Pendigo Lake at the NEC campus.

The company that wins the contract will design and deliver the infrastructure, comprising piers, viaducts, the APM’s four stops, the APM maintenance facility and all temporary works.

HS2 plans to award the contract in 2028, and expects the construction, system installation and testing to be carried out over the following two years, for completion by 2030.

Three of the four APM stops will be located on the viaduct. The other – the Interchange Station stop – will be at ground level.

The designs will feature a series of reinforced central concrete piers, a weathered steel deck and escape walkway gratings. The viaduct’s structure will combine single- and twin-track paths at various points along the route, which will enable trains to pass each other.

Two APM stops – Birmingham Airport and Interchange Station – will each have a single platform face. The two intermediate stops – NEC and Birmingham International Railway Station – will have two.

Platform lengths will be between thirty-six and forty metres. All platforms will have step-free access, and will be fully covered by canopies.

“We’re launching our two-week market engagement exercise, which enables potential suppliers to familiarise themselves with the very latest details for the APM infrastructure contract.

“Importantly, this is a two-way dialogue, a chance for us to listen and learn from those interested in bidding for the works, so we can define the scope, commercial approach and procurement strategy.”

Andrew Cubitt, Procurement and Supply Chain Director, HS2 Ltd