North West Electrification Phase 1 Contract awarded to Balfour Beatty Rail

Network Rail has awarded the North West Electrification Phase 1 Contract to Balfour Beatty Rail. It will significantly improve the capacity, operation and sustainability of the network in and around Liverpool and Manchester and forms an important part of Network Rail’s National Electrification Programme. Completed in 1830, the Liverpool to Manchester Railway was the world’s first true passenger railway and formed the corner stone of future rapid development in railways over the past 100 years.

Phase 1 of the Programme comprises electrification of the route from Newton-le-Willows to Castlefield Junction, Manchester, including some minor signaling works and covering a distance of 30 kilometres of twin track connecting into existing overhead electrification at either end.

The Multi-Phase Contract is being implemented in four phases:

Liverpool to Manchester

Phase 1, to be complete by Dec 2013

Phase 2, to be complete by Dec 2014

Lancashire Triangle

Phase 3, to be complete by Dec 2015

Phase 4, to be completed by Dec 2016