Network Rail awards major Crossrail design contract

Network Rail has awarded a major contract to Atkins Ltd to design the bulk of works planned on the north-east section of the Crossrail route, between Stratford in east London and Shenfield in Essex.

The contract includes the design of station improvements along the 25km (15.5 mile) route at Romford, Ilford, Goodmayes, Forest Gate, Harold Wood, Gidea Park, Chadwell Heath and Brentwood. Platform extensions will allow longer, higher capacity trains to run and step-free access will be provided at the majority of the stations on the route. Other works will include infrastructure improvements, such as extra train stabling capacity and turnback facilities that will improve the reliability of passenger services.

When fully open, Crossrail will provide 12 trains per hour on the Great Eastern Main Line at peak times in each direction between central London and Shenfield.

Robbie Burns, Network Rail programme director, said: “Crossrail is vital for London’s economy, bringing an additional 1.5m people within a 45-minute commute of the capital’s key business districts and improving journeys for many millions more.

“Network Rail is making a multi-billion pound investment to transform the railway so it is ready for Crossrail. Passengers will benefit from more seats, better stations and a more frequent and reliable service.”

Mark Cowlard, managing director of the Rail Solutions business for Atkins, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to help Network Rail complete its Crossrail transformation. The design work we will undertake will be incredibly varied, from the extension of platforms, to the design of new footbridges, to remodelling overhead lines to incorporate the new metro-style services.

“Our multidisciplinary team will also be conducting ground and site investigations and making sure the best environmental practices are being used. It is great to build on the existing relationships we have with the ‘surface’ team, and also is the perfect chance to further use the Crossrail knowledge we have gained from working on the central London sections.”

Network Rail is responsible for the design, development and delivery of the parts of Crossrail that are on the existing network, covering 70km (43.5 miles) of track and 28 stations from Maidenhead in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east.