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The standards will help improve public health outcomes and encourage the UK construction industry to invest in cleaner technology.

All diesel HGVs working the length of the HS2 project will be powered by the cleanest available Euro VI engines, going beyond current standards set here in the UK. Vehicle emission standards, denoted by the 鈥淓uro鈥� categorisation, have been set and toughened over recent years and currently all newly-made combustion engine vehicles must comply with Euro VI, the most recent and strictest standard.

By insisting that all HGVs working on the project comply with the project鈥檚 standards, HS2 Ltd hopes it will encourage its suppliers to invest in new, cleaner and more efficient vehicles. The company has already introduced the stipulation for HGVs and plans to extend the standard for cars and vans in 2020.

As well as HGVs, cars and vans, a fleet of off-road machinery like diggers, cranes and diesel-powered generators is needed to build the 345 miles of the UK鈥檚 new high speed railway.

Currently only London sets any emissions standards at all for off-road machines. However, HS2 is insisting equipment used along the route鈥檚 entire length meets the EU Stage 3b standard, rising to less-polluting Stage 4 in 2020.

In the capital鈥檚 Congestion Charge Zone HS2 already demands its contractors comply with Stage 4, and will raise it to Stage 5 next year, staying one step ahead of the city鈥檚 own emissions standards.

HS2 Ltd鈥檚 director of environment, Peter Miller, said:

HS2 is more than a railway. We are leading the industry in vehicle emission standards by exceeding London鈥檚 construction industry standards and extending them 345 miles across the country. We are determined to use the project鈥檚 scale and duration to help cut the release of harmful combustion engine emissions by stipulating contractors building Britain鈥檚 new high speed rail network use the cleanest vehicles and machinery available.

By setting new vehicle emission standards for contractors we will contribute to efforts to improve air quality; and leave a legacy of a new fleet of low-emission HGVs and construction equipment to work on future projects. We also hope our rules influence local authorities along the route to follow HS2鈥檚 lead and introduce exacting emissions standards in their area, which would benefit huge swathes of the country.