HS2 Ltd has awarded the framework worth up to £316m for around 300 state-of-the-art lifts and escalators for the four major new stations to TK Elevator.

In total, Birmingham Curzon Street, Interchange, Old Oak Common and the new HS2 platforms at London Euston will need more than 160 lifts and 130 escalators to help hundreds of thousands of people access HS2 trains every day.

TK Elevator, which employs around 400 people across the UK, has been awarded a framework agreement, with the final value expected to be worth between £207m and £316m depending on the number of lifts and escalators needed.

HS2 says this flexible approach will allow it to vary the number of lifts and escalators in line with station requirements as the designs are finalised. As well as manufacture and installation, the framework also includes maintenance for up to 20 years.

All the new stations in London and Birmingham will be zero carbon in terms of day-to-day operation, and fully accessible, with step-free access from street to train. Placed end to end, the escalators would stretch more than 3km – longer than the Forth Rail Bridge.

Andrew Cubitt, HS2 Ltd’s procurement director, said: “These lifts and escalators will be an essential part of our four iconic new stations - moving hundreds of thousands of people every day and helping us to ensure seamless journeys for everyone. I’d like to congratulate TK Elevator on their award of the framework and I look forward to seeing them deliver a vital part of the HS2 project.”

Inge Delobelle, CEO of TK Elevator in Europe & Africa, said: “We are honoured to partner with HS2 on this landmark project. We have a strong track record of supporting transport infrastructure projects across the world, and are confident that our proven expertise as well as our commitment to sustainability and high safety standards will help provide the best mobility solutions for this ambitious undertaking.”