Network Rail has announced 15 firms that make up a partnership to “streamline” delivery of £3.5bn of infrastructure works in the Eastern region during the five years of Control Period 7 (CP7), 2024-2029.
The Eastern Routes Partnership (ERP) features the 15 firms split into four Lots, outlined below.
Lot 1 – Buildings and Civils
Generalist: AmcoGiffen, Bam, Morgan Sindall, Story Contracting
Specialist: Taziker (Structures), CK Rail (Geotech)
Lot 2 – Signalling and Telecoms
Generalist: Amey, AtkinsRealis
Specialist: Trackwork (Signaglling), Hawthorne (Telecoms)
Lot 3 – Contact Systems
Generalist: Amey, Keltbray
Specialist: Morgan Sindall
Lot 4 – Distribution and Plant
Generalist – Keltbray/Linbrooke Partnership, Octavius Infrastructure
Specialist: Lowery
The ERP will allow Network Rail’s Eastern region to award infrastructure improvement works directly to supply chain partners, which will improve collaboration and efficiency according to the rail operator.
After being in place throughout CP7, there will be the option for the ERP to extend through CP8 (2029-2034). “Building this stability between the region and its partners means the supply chain will already be on-board when the work bank for CP8 is developed,” Network Rail stated.
It added that by having this framework in place the need for individual procurement events is removed. This will save “valuable time” and ensure the Eastern region’s work is better value for money, while also allowing for earlier collaboration between the region and its partners on each project.
The Generalists will form the core partnership team and will deliver the larger, more complex projects as well as emerging single-discipline enhancements.
The Specialists have been awarded a work bank where, due to the scale or scope of the requirement, a smaller delivery partner with a particular specialism is required.
The Eastern region accounts for almost a third (31.2%) of route km in England, stretching from London to the Scottish border, encompassing cities such as Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Derby, Norwich and Cambridge. It looks after more than 1bn passenger journeys annually on routes including the Midland Main Line and the East Coast Main Line.
Network Rail managing director for Eastern region Jake Kelly said: “This launch is the culmination of two years of hard work to bring real innovation to our commercial delivery in CP7. The ERP framework is key to effectively maintaining our infrastructure to deliver a sustained improvement in train performance over the next five years.
“It’s designed to strengthen our relationships with our supply chain partners, letting us utilise their skills and experience. ERP also lets us take a more collaborative approach by bringing our engineers, delivery teams and the suppliers together, earlier, to identify the minimum viable product.”
Keltbray Group CEO Darren James said the company was “delighted” to be appointed on two Lots and that it is part of the company’s “strategic plan to position Keltbray as a leading infrastructure services provider in the rail and broader decarbonised transport sector”.
He added that the company’s deal is worth £250M for the first five years.
Keltbray Infrastructure managing director Phill Price said the company was “honoured to have been awarded these positions on such a prestigious framework for our valued client”.
Price added: “It was a real team effort across Keltbray, and the framework will leverage our rail systems design, engineering and rail delivery capabilities across our whole business.”
Octavius Infrastructure managing director rail Matt Smith said that the company’s appointment “continues to build on our strong relationship with Network Rail” and that the company is “proud to be supporting the country’s vital infrastructure, connecting millions of people every day”.
Smith continued: “It is testament to the dedication of our staff, that this win quickly follows that of our North-West and Central (NW&C) Capital Delivery Framework appointment last month. Octavius have now secured frameworks in all four regions in England and Wales.”
Eastern region in numbers
- More than a billion annual passenger journeys
- 3 managed stations: Leeds, King’s Cross and Liverpool Street
- 9,724 route km (31.2% of national)
- 3,400 passenger services every day and 15 train operators
- 1,057,462t of freight moved a week with 1,742 freight movements – the highest of all regions
- 2,614 level crossings
- 9,278 bridges
- 9,262 signals
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