Media centre

Wednesday 2 Apr 2003

NETWORK RAIL SIGNS FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTS FOR NEXT STAGE OF THE SOUTHERN UPGRADE PROJECT

Region & Route:

National

Network Rail has completed the signing of the four framework agreements to take the upgrade of the power supply on the southern England rail network forward to the next stage - delivery. Network Rail, working closely with the SRA and the train operators, has spent many months identifying the overall size and scale of the power supply project and the key contractors who would be able to work with the company to deliver the complex project in the shortest possible timescale. Four contract areas have been identified – Kent, Wessex, Sussex and inner London and agreements have now been signed that identify which contractor will be working with Network Rail for the designing, construction and installation of the new electrification equipment in each area:- Inner London  - SEEBOARD Contracting Services Ltd  / Balfour Beatty Rail Projects Ltd -   (joint venture) Kent                - ABB Ltd / Mowlem Railways - (consortium) Sussex             - Integrated Utility Services Ltd  / Peterhouse plc - (joint venture) Wessex           - Siemens Transportation Systems / Amec Spie Rail Systems - (joint venture)  The projected 2003/4 value for each of the four regions is between £40 – 50 million. - more -             Framework - 2 The framework agreements have no contract value nor do they detail the work to be done but form a firm basis for the partners to design, plan and implement the detailed delivery stage of the project. Over 500 people will soon be working on the delivery stage of the power supply upgrade and with initial substation and cable procurement already well advanced, Network Rail anticipates substantial physical works to start on the ground by late spring.