UK: Infrastructure manager Network Rail has awarded CP6 signalling contracts worth several billion GBP to make the rail network more reliable.
The signalling contracts will be delivered over the course of Control Period 6, Network Rail’s current five-year budget cycle. The works will improve the reliability of the signalling systems and hopefully allow more trains to run.
In total Network Rail has issued five framework contracts with a total value of around 2.4 billion GBP (2.8 billion euros | 3.1 billion USD) for Control Period 6, which will run until 2024. Furthermore, they contain options to extend for the first two years of Control Period 7 (CP7), i.e. until 2026, bringing the total contract values up to 3.6 billion GBP (4.25 billion euros | 4.65 billion USD). By improving the reliability of the signalling equipment, train delays will be reduced while capacity for both passenger and freight rail will go up.
The CP6 signalling contracts became active on 31 January 2020 and have been divided geographically:
- Alstom (Southern region and Eastern region)
- Siemens Mobility Ltd (Scotland region and North West & Central region)
- Hitachi Rail STS UK Ltd and Limbrooke Services Ltd joint venture (Wales & Western region)
Network Rail is pursuing a new, more commercial approach with the goal of getting better deals with the supply chain so that the railway also becomes better value. It says it wants to become easier to work with and a more efficient and dependable partner. It also wants to remove barriers so that it is easier for other organisations to invest in and build on the railway. As a result of an efficiency portfolio covering more than a thousand initiatives, Network Rail will save 3.5 billion GBP (4.1 billion euros | 4.5 billion USD) in CP6.
“The major signalling frameworks are the final awards in a three-tier approach to signalling delivery for Control Period 6. The awards have gone to suppliers that, between them, have many years of signalling experience and will help Network Rail facilitate key signalling renewals safely and efficiently. We look forward to working with the successful suppliers to deliver signalling projects that are truly on the side of passengers and freight users.”
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