Aerial view of Colne Valley Viaduct over Korda Lake © Grimshaw/Hufton+Crow.

Britain's new high-speed railway

Aerial view of Colne Valley Viaduct over Korda Lake © Grimshaw/Hufton+Crow.

Sustainability

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Building a greener future

We’re building HS2 to last – and sustainability shapes every decision we make, from design through to operation.

We’ll run the railway entirely on zero-carbon electricity and move heavy freight off roads. We’re also building the HS2 green corridor – a continuous stretch of seven million native trees and shrubs along the route that promotes flourishing habitats and protects biodiversity.

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Beyond the tracks

Safety is at the heart of how we work. Our ‘Safe at Heart’ approach means we look after the health, safety and wellbeing of every person on our sites and everyone in the communities around them.

Construction has also uncovered our history. Since 2018, we’ve been investigating more than 60 archaeological sites along the route. More than 1,000 specialists have uncovered stories of our ancestors from prehistoric times to the Industrial Revolution.

Through our Learning Legacy programme, we share what we learn during construction – helping the wider industry improve how it builds major infrastructure projects.

See our health, safety and wellbeing approach Explore our archaeology programme Learn about environmental sustainability See our Learning Legacy programme
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How we're building HS2

Watch more videos on our YouTube channel.
Watch on YouTube - Building a railway | How HS2 will take shape
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HS2 works near you

Sign up for updates about construction in your area. We’ll tell you what we’re building, when we’re working and what we’re doing to reduce disruption.

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Last updated:

15th Jul 2026