Passengers have been urged by Network Rail to plan their journeys in advance as the rail company delivers more than 400 projects, part of a £84 million investment across the country. A 9,600-strong workforce will work around the clock over the bank holiday weekend to deliver more reliable infrastructure, improved
Network Rail’s £5 billion ‘next generation’ track works contracts is inviting bids through a contract notice. The suite is the largest of its kind being undertaken in the upcoming funding period, control period 6 (CP6), which runs from 2019 to 2024. The contracts cover 10 years of railway track works
Passengers have been urged by Network Rail to plan their journeys in advance as the rail company delivers more than 400 projects, part of a £84 million investment across the country. A 9,600-strong workforce will work around the clock over the bank holiday weekend to deliver more reliable infrastructure, improved facilities and better services for passengers, all part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan. The major investment projects this August include: The replacement of a vital junction outside of London Euston station at North Wembley to improve reliability of services. This will see London Euston station closed not only over the bank holiday weekend (25 – 27 August), but also the 18 – 19 August and 01 – 02 September. The £200 million investment to transform the track and signalling through the Derby station area will continue over the bank holiday weekend. The 79 days of engineering began on Sunday 22 July and runs until Sunday 07 October. The investment is a key part of the biggest upgrade of the Midland Main Line, which will support better journeys between Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and London. The replacement of track near Coventry to improve the reliability of services through the area. Passengers travelling to Birmingham International Airport are advised to plan their journeys in advance as buses will replace trains between Birmingham International and Rugby. “This bank holiday weekend, thousands of rail workers across Britain will be delivering essential improvements that will lead to faster, better services and help relieve overcrowding to respond to the huge growth on Britain’s railways. While it will be business as usual on most of the network, we urge all passengers to check before they travel,” said Andy Thomas, Network Rail managing director of England and Wales. Some routes will see significant changes to normal services; therefore passengers should plan ahead of travelling this August bank holiday weekend.
Network Rail’s £5 billion ‘next generation’ track works contracts is inviting bids through a contract notice. The suite is the largest of its kind being undertaken in the upcoming funding period, control period 6 (CP6), which runs from 2019 to 2024. The contracts cover 10 years of railway track works and will introduce three new geographically-focused alliances between Network Rail, designers and construction suppliers. The alliances include: the North Alliance (Scotland Route); Central Alliance (London North West, London North East and East Midland routes) and the South Alliance; (Anglia, South East, Wessex, Western and Wales routes). Each alliance will combine the development, design and delivery of plain line track and switches and crossings, as well as associated infrastructure works for each area. The step sees plain line and switches & crosses brought together operationally and commercially as a means of delivering infrastructure works more efficiently and effectively for customers, said Network Rail. This move is a key part of the Rail’s Infrastructure Projects CP6 procurement strategy, which aims to promote collaborative arrangements with the supply chain that offer better value for money for devolved route customers. “Combining our plain line expertise with that of switches & crossings will bring huge benefits to both our route customers and the wider supply chain. The proven alliance model offers a flexible and cost effective solution with a greater focus on each route’s specific requirements and needs,” said Steve Featherstone, Network Rail director for track. The pre-qualification period for the tender will start in June. Network Rail owns and operates the railway infrastructure, including 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges and viaducts and thousands of tunnels, signals, level crossings and points, in England, Wales and Scotland on behalf of the nation. It also manages rail timetabling and 20 of the largest stations in England, Scotland and Wales.
