Seven firms have been shortlisted to win a share of the £900 million enabling works contract for the HS2, it has been announced.

The first stage of the project, taking place between London and the West Midlands, is expected to begin in 2017.

The work is split between three packages covering northern, central and southern sections of the route.

It covers a range of activities, including utility diversions, ecology surveys, archaeology, establishing site compounds, site clearance, demolition, ground remediation, watercourse activities, highways realignments, monitoring and instrumentation, structural reinforcements and drainage.

The following firms, which are expected to tender in the spring, have been shortlisted for at least one package:

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• BBV JV (Balfour Beatty Group plc, Vinci Construction Grands Projets SAS, Vinci Construction UK Limited, Vinci Construction Terrassement SAS).

• CEK JV (Carillion Construction Limited, Eiffage Travaux Publics, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas).

• Costain Skanska JV (Costain Limited, Skanska Construction Limited)

• LM (Laing O'Rourke, J. Murphy & Sons).

• Morgan Sindall / BAM / Ferrovial JV (Morgan Sindall plc, BAM Nuttall Limited, Ferrovial Agroman (UK) Limited).

• Align JV (BouyguesTravaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, Morrison Utility Services, Volkerfitzpatrick).

• Momentum Infrastructure (Galliford Try Infrastructure Limited, Hochtief Infrastructure GmbH, Dragados SA).

Simon Kirby, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive, said: "Today's shortlist marks an important milestone as we move towards the start of construction in 2017 and a real boost for the UK construction industry.

"Over the course of the next few years, the winning bidders will go on to employ thousands of people on site and in the supply chain, preparing the ground for the start of major civil engineering.

"Announcing the shortlist now will help give business the certainty they need to push on with their bids, start to put in place supply chains and invest in recruitment, training and education ahead of the start of construction."

(LM/CD)