Contracting-out
The HSL is built to last at least 100 years. The government avoids a carelessly-built project that will incur unnecessary expenses later, by contracting out not only the construction work, but at the same time also the design and maintenance of the line (a so-called Design & Construct contract).
To realise the project, it is divided into four constituent projects, and each of these constituent projects has been awarded to one or more building consortiums (temporary associations of companies/building firms that jointly accept and execute a contract).
- Substructure: civil engineering constructions: concrete construction, foundation, A4 and A16 motorways.
- Superstructure (railway systems): rails, electric overhead wires, sound barriers, communication and safety systems.
- Connections to existing tracks (Hoofddorp, Rotterdam (West and Lombardijen), Zevenbergschen Hoek, Breda).
- Transport.
Substructure
The concrete substructure of the HSL is financed by the Dutch government. These works are incorporated in six large contracts. Each of these contracts costs approximately € 400 million. With such large contracts, it is worthwhile for the building firms to invest in the development of industrial, factory-produced construction techniques.
To build the substructure, six building consortiums were established. They all entered into Design & Construct contracts, which means that the HSL does not instruct the builders to the last detail of the construction. However, there is a programme of demands, which the design in advance, and the line upon completion, must comply with. In their area of expertise, the builders have the freedom to choose a design and construction, and they are challenged to find the best technical solutions, while keeping a close eye on expenses and completion date.
The six building consortiums are:
- Building Combination HSL Hollandse Meren
- Building Combination Bouygues/Koop
- HSL Combination HSL Zuid-Holland Midden
- Building Combination HSL Drechtse Steden
- HSL Building Combination Brabant Noord
- HSL Combination Brabant Zuid
Connection to existing tracks
To make sure that an entirely new line connects properly to the existing track, new viaducts, points and extra tracks are needed in various locations. Work on existing tracks, without disrupting with the daily train services, is a job for specialists. For this reason, this connection work was contracted out to other building firms than the new construction. Late January 2001, the HSL Project Organization signed the contract for this with the a consortium established for this purpose, which included Ballast Nedam, BAM NBM and HBG Civiel. Under a comprehensive Design & Construct contract for substructure and superstructure, as well as electricity conversion, Infrarail is carrying out the connection work at Hoofddorp, Rotterdam Lombardijen, Lage Zwaluwe, Prinsenbeek, Breda and Roosendaal.
This involves the following works:
- 4 fly-overs;
- one dive-under;
- one rail bridge;
- rail viaducts;
- adjustments to and extensions of railway constructions, including points on operational tracks;
- overhead wire systems and railway safety system;
- sound barriers;
- diverting and widening railway routes;
- tunnels for road traffic;
- sound-insulation in homes.
In Rotterdam-West the connection with Rotterdam Central Station is realised over a length of 2 kilometres. The major part of the track is raised with an average of 6 metres, resting on slanted piles, so-called shoring. In Rotterdam-West, a great number of constituent projects have been contracted out to various firms by means of traditional contracts under uniform administrative terms (for the execution of work). Pursuant to these contracts, work is done with (traditional) managers and supervisors, in contrast to the Design & Construct contracts, which grants the builder more responsibility (also for design and the end result).