Media centre

Monday 5 Apr 2004

NETWORK RAIL AWARDS NEW, EFFICIENT TRACK RENEWAL CONTRACT

Region & Route:

National

Network Rail today announced the award of the final new, five year, track renewals contracts. The multi-million pound, five year ‘framework’ renewals contracts represent a key element of Network Rail’s task of rebuilding Britain’s railway and will deliver cost reductions and significant improvements in value for money through: - ·        more integrated methods of working ·        improved specification ·        optimisation of job lengths ·        better utilisation of track access and resources ·        competitive pricing ·        benchmarking unit rates for standardised work types The contracts that have been awarded are to; ·         Amey Seco for plain line renewals work in the West Country and Wales ·         Balfour Beatty for plain line and switch and crossing work in East Anglia and Southern England                             ·         Carillion Rail for plain line and switch and crossing renewals work in the West Midlands, and for switch and crossing renewals work in the North West, the West Country and Wales. - more - Renewals – 2             The awards follow twelve months of detailed negotiations between the parties and are the last in a series of phased announcements that have taken place over the past few weeks to deliver renewals contracts for the entire network. The contracts form an integral part of the company’s drive to improve the condition of its assets and catch up on the backlog of track renewals resulting from years of under investment. Network Rail Chief Executive John Armitt said: “The award of these contracts is a significant step toward our goal of controlling costs, whilst delivering a more reliable railway infrastructure and better train performance.  The huge task of rebuilding our railway is well underway.”