The winning firms will work on civils and environmental design of the sections between Crewe and Manchester, and Birmingham and Leeds, via Sheffield and the East Midlands.

A separate development contract, expected to be worth £130m-£170m, will also be awarded to provide support to HS2 in managing work to enable a hybrid Bill to be prepared for this section of the line.

CH2M Hill, which picked up the development partner role for the London to Birmingham phase is now also in the hunt for the next phase, once again up agains Mace/WSP and Bechtel, which is also in the chase for the first time.

An estimated contract length of over seven years has been specified by HS2 for the development partner.

The second contract worth £280m-£350m, for civils design and environmental services will be split into three lots, each dealing with a different geographical area. The largest of these is the third lot, worth between £120m and £150m, which covers civils design and environmental services in Leeds.

The government is expected to make a decision on the Phase Two route in the autumn.

HS2 chief executive Simon Kirby said: “Phase Two will significantly increase capacity, enhance connectivity and improve journeys for millions of people travelling between London, the Midlands and the major cities of the north.

“HS2 will be Britain’s largest infrastructure development, and has the potential to change the way the UK designs and builds projects of national significance. 

“That’s why it’s so important that we get the right team on board to help us develop the design and environmental assessment that supports obtaining the hybrid Bill powers.  This process needs to start now so that we are able to open all the way to Manchester and Leeds on time.”