Interface management on high speed two: managing multiple complex interfaces in the design and construction of high speed railway infrastructure in the United Kingdom

Purpose Interface management is the process of managing communications, responsibilities and coordination of project parties, phases or physical entities which are dependent on one another. Interface management is a crucial part of managing any construction project – but particularly important for high-speed railway projects that often have several contractual parties and stakeholders, very long project timelines and huge upfront cost overlays. This paper discusses how various project interfaces were managed during the design and construction of the civil engineering infrastructure for the High Speed Two (HS2) project in the United Kingdom. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses the case study methodology. Key interfaces on the HS2 project are grouped into various categories and the paper discusses how they were managed within the Area North Integrated Project Team (IPT) of the HS2 project made up of contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), the Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture (DJV) and client HS2 Ltd. 3 different case studies drawn from across the IPT are used, each of them highlighting different interfaces and how these interfaces were managed. Findings The paper shows how innovative technical designs and modern methods of construction were used to address some of the unique and peculiar challenges of designing a brand-new railway in the United Kingdom. Addressing the contrasting and often competing requirements of different stakeholders, coupled with challenging physical constraints of the very limited land available for the project and the use of a rarely used Act of Parliament in the delivery of the project required different approach to interface management. Collaboration and proactive stakeholder engagement are necessary for successful interface management on megaprojects. The authors posit that adopting an integrated approach to engineering and construction management is an essential ingredient for the successful delivery of high-speed railway projects. Originality/value With many high-speed railway projects around the world coming up in the next few years, understanding the context and challenges for each country will help engineering and design managers adopt appropriate approaches for their projects. The lessons learned on the HS2 project are also transferable to other mega infrastructure projects with complex project interfaces.