More railway construction work coming down the line

Railway construction projects are set to offer a promising source of new infrastructure sector work for civil engineering contractors over the year ahead.

In April, Network Rail announced the start of its five-year, £45.4bn rail improvement plan under the CP7 2024-29 period with an emphasis on improving train performances and a system better able to deal with climate change.

Although the overall spend under CP7 is little changed in real terms on the previous five-year period, it does involve a 6% increase in maintenance work.

Rail projects accounted for the largest share (38%) of all civil engineering starts in the second quarter and were worth £3,947 million. This was some twenty times the value of rail starts in the same period last year.

The scale of the activity getting underway suggests the cuts in various new infrastructure projects recently announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves – which included the closure of the £500 million Restoring Your Railways fund – will not significantly impact the prospects for new railway construction work.

Investment to cope with climate change

Civils contractors stand to benefit from the £2.8 billion which the new CP7 plan includes for investment to help the network cope with climate and weather change. Work will involve more than 600,000 metres of drains being built or rebuilt and over 20,000 cuttings or embankments being strengthened or maintained.

One major railway construction framework that got underway over the early summer was the £3.5 billion Eastern Routes Partnership CP7 Framework which involves renewals and minor enhancements across the region (Project ID: 21447871).

Meanwhile last month, 15 suppliers were appointed to Network Rail’s £1.4bn Southern Region minor works, buildings and civils partnership framework, a new arrangement to deliver works across the region in the CP7 and CP8 periods (Project ID: 23072242).

Glenigan data details numerous other opportunities on rail-related contracts that are currently open, including positions on significant railway construction frameworks.

For example, applications to tender are currently invited for Network Rail’s £750 million Reactive & Minor Works Framework, a new arrangement that will cover the Wales & Western railway region. Set to go live from next spring, it will involve reactive/emergency works on building and civils assets (Project ID: 23356961).

Applications to tender are also open on Network Rail’s £1.146 billion Eastern region Reactive and Small Schemes Framework covering building and civils assets involving schemes described as ‘low complexity’ (Project ID: 23369101).

New railway stations

There are also some significant new railway station projects in the pipeline, particularly in areas with growing populations.

In Bristol, Network Rail’s new £53.8 million MetroWest Phase 2 – North Filton/Brabazon Railway Station (pictured) on a former airfield is being redesigned to create more capacity for the area. Work on the scheme, where detailed plans have been granted and which is at the pre-tender stage, is due to start next summer (Project ID: 21449153).

Further west in Newquay, contracts have been awarded and work is due to start early next year on the £58.8 million Mid-Cornwall Metro involving platform enhancements and a new service linking Newquay, St Austell, Truro, and Falmouth. Colas Rail is the civil contractor on the project where work is set to run for 24 months (Project ID: 23035019).

Smaller railway station projects around the country are also creating opportunities. At Hereford Railway Station, detailed plans have been granted for a £9.8 million extension including a bus interchange and public realm improvements. The scheme is at the pre-tender stage with work set to start later this year and run for 12 months (Project ID: 23092739).