Network Rail announces track replacement firms

Infrastructure owner to bring high output track renewal in-house

Network Rail has announced the preferred bidders for the delivery of £800 million of track renewal work.

The owner and operator of Britain's rail infrastructure also said it would bring in-house a team of contractors currently employed by AmeyColas that specialises in high output track renewal next March, rather than re-tendering the contract.

High output track renewal involves large, automated 'factory trains' which are owned by Network Rail and typically each work five nights a week on the network. Renewals are completed overnight with regular trains passing on adjacent lines, minimising service disruption, Network Rail said.

Following a competitive procurement process, Babcock, Carillion and Colas have been selected as preferred bidders to deliver so-called 'plain line', or conventional, track replacement work. The work, which runs over Network Rail's next funding period to March 2019, will see the renewal of 7,000 km of track, as part of the organisation's £25 billion investment programme. The work also comprises switches and crossings renewals, for which the preferred bidders are Amey Sersea and Colas URS.

Babcock is set to take the lion's share of the conventional track replacement work in a contract worth approximately £200 million over five years. Amey Sersea and Colas URS are set to pick up around £400 million apiece over ten years for switches and crossings (S&C) renewals. It is thought that the commencement of both the plain line and S&C contracts will be phased in over late summer. The contracts will be able to cover both renewals and enhancements, compared to the current contracts, which cover just renewals, Network Rail said.

Network Rail said it is now working with the contractors involved and both the RMT and TSSA unions on a “safe and effective transition” for the work. With regard to bringing the high output work in-house, it added: “Network Rail will work jointly with AmeyColas to deliver high output track renewals to the point of transfer and is now working with both the RMT and TSSA to manage a smooth transfer of the people affected.”