HS2 has awarded a £36m contract to Bolton-based Booth Industries to provide high-pressure safety doors for the internal passages linking the high-speed rail tunnels
The safety doors will play a crucial role in the operation of the railway, sealing off the cross passageways between the separate north and southbound tunnels and giving access in the event of an emergency.
The initial phase of the contract will focus on developing and testing door and frame designs.
In total 303 doors and frames will be designed, manufactured and installed by Booth, using majority UK made steel, across the 32 miles of tunnel between London and Crewe.
Booth Industries, which is owned by Avingtrans PLC, was established in 1873 and is now one of the UK’s designers and manufacturers of high-performance safety and security doors, blast windows, modular wall systems and blast relief panels.
From their three sites in Bolton, they have provided equipment for projects across the defence, infrastructure and industrial sectors – including similar safety doors for HS1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) and Crossrail.
Reliability and safety
HS2’s procurement and commercial director, David Poole, said: “As well as being one the world’s most reliable high-speed railways, HS2 also needs to be the safest.
“That’s why we’re delighted to be awarded this major contract to Booth Industries. Their impressive experience of delivering the highest quality in terms of safety and performance will play a vital role in delivering this crucial part of the HS2 project.
“This award also goes to show how HS2 is already supporting companies across the UK, creating jobs and helping the economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic.”
Mike Jenkinson, managing director of Booth Industries, added: “This is a landmark contract with a new customer, which recognises the extensive experience we have developed over years’ supplying high-integrity door sets for a range of infrastructure projects.
“Our designs are based on existing Booth IP and will be manufactured at a new, purpose-built facility in Bolton, creating up to fifty skilled jobs in the area over the next decade.”
The first frames are expected to be delivered to contractors before the end of 2021 with manufacturing and installation expected around 2025.
