As part of the ALIGN design team with Jacobs, Rendel and Ingerop employees have been working on the HS2 phase 1 project, based in the Rendel project office as well as in the ALIGN JV offices at Fenchurch Street and Euston, in London and in Birmingham.  They are working closely with staff from Jacobs and ALIGN.  The integrated team is a crucial element of the project. Having commenced on 31^st August, the project is already in its 11^th week. 

During the Stage One period (16 months from award date) of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), the ALIGN design team is compiling a list of options for each asset, before preparing a shortlist of preferred options, which will be studied in greater detail, i.e. on technical, commercial, operational and whole life costings basis. There are six Design Gateways which drive the process, with financial incentives to encourage compliance. The ALIGN design team, including the subconsultants, now has 160 people located in offices mostly around the London area, with a few individuals in Birmingham and further afield in France.

As part of ALIGN, Rendel/Ingerop already passed Gateway No 1 at the end of September, which required the submission to Align of some 50 reports/documents, an updated Stage One design programme and draft Stage Two programme.