Carillion to work on construction of HS2 high-speed rail project

High-speed trains are expected to begin operating between London and Birmingham in 2026

Troubled construction giant Carillion is among the firms awarded contracts for the building of phase one of the HS2 rail line, the Government has announced.

The deals are worth £6.6 billion in total and will see tunnels, embankments and viaducts constructed between London and Birmingham.

The work is estimated to support 16,000 jobs.

A partnership featuring Carillion has been commissioned for two of the projects.

The firm's share price tanked by more than 70% last week after a profit warning and an £845 million write-off on construction contracts.

In February, Parliament granted powers to build the first phase of the line, which will see trains travel at high speed between London and Birmingham before running on from Birmingham on the existing West Coast Main Line.

Preparatory work has begun and major construction projects are due to launch in 2018/19.

High-speed trains are expected to begin operating between London and Birmingham in 2026.

Transport Secretary Grayling will soon publish a Bill to deliver Phase 2a from the West Midlands to Crewe, with services expected to begin in 2027.

Phase 2b from Crewe to Manchester, and Birmingham to the East Midlands and Leeds, is due to open in 2033.