The race for a contractor to supply, operate and maintain HS2’s Automated People Mover (APM) sees POMA S.A.S and Doppelmayr Cable Car UK Ltd called to submit tenders.

HS2 Ltd will award two contracts to the successful contractor worth a total of around £269m. The winning form will be tasked with the design, supply and installation of the APM cable-pulled operating system, in addition to the maintenance and operation of the system for a 25-year period.

The route will transport thousands of people every hour between Interchange Station, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham International Railway Station, and Birmingham Airport.

Passengers will travel on an elevated 2.2-kilometre-long viaduct crossing the West Coast Main Line, the NEC, Pendigo Lake and M42 Motorway.

Ailsa Waygood, HS2 Ltd’s Project Client for the APM and Interchange Station, said: “It’s an exciting development as we invite the two shortlisted companies to progress to the formal tender stage, entering the next phase in turning our vision for the APM into reality.”

HS2 Ltd expects to award the operation and maintenance contract in mid 2026 and has also started the search for a supplier to design and build the APM infrastructure.

Market engagement for the design and build contract began in spring 2024, and is ongoing.