A SNEAK peak inside HS2’s eco-friendly Interchange Station in Solihull has been offered to the public as world leaders gather to discuss climate change at COP26.
The 360 degree online tour hosts a virtual exhibition pavilion showcasing how HS2 is reducing carbon by using new technology to build one of the most sustainable railways of its kind in the world.
People can step through the entrance of the station, walk through the concourse and ticket check-in area and onto the station platform, viewing videos and virtual exhibition areas on the way.
Each area of the virtual station focuses on different environmental parts of the project, including how HS2 will help to decarbonise the transport sector by providing a low carbon alternative for long distance travel, reducing the need for car and domestic plane journeys.
Interchange Station in Solihull was chosen to host the exhibition because of its BREEAM Outstanding award, putting it in the top one per cent of buildings in the UK for sustainability.
The exhibition also features pop-up information and videos about the station’s sustainable design.
HS2’s director of environment Peter Miller said: “This interactive exhibition provides a fantastic virtual tour through HS2’s many environmental innovations, as a showcase for the project during the UN Climate Change Conference – COP26.
“It clearly demonstrates how HS2 is playing an important role in delivering the Government’s commitment to bring all greenhouse gas emissions in the UK to net zero by 2050.”
Visitors to the online exhibition can also register for HS2’s COP26 webinar series during the UN summit, covering cleaner construction, sustainable stations and building a railway resilient to climate change.
These are open to anyone to attend, and recordings of the webinars featuring HS2 experts and external partners will be also available to view in the virtual exhibition afterwards.
To view the tour visit https://360.hs2.org.uk/interchange
For more on the webinars visit https://www.hs2.org.uk/cop26/
