06.11.14
EGIP alliance contractors named in £250m deal
Network Rail has awarded alliancing contracts to deliver the core physical and electrification works on the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) to Costain and Morgan Sindall.
The £250m deal will see the contractors electrify the main line between Scotland’s two biggest cities, complete route clearance works at Winchburgh Tunnel, rail infrastructure works at Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley stations and extend platforms at Croy, Falkirk High, Polmont and Linlithgow.
The main Edinburgh-Glasgow electrification works will be complete in 2016. Piling works to create the foundations needed to erect the overhead power lines began this week and will be completed by the summer of 2015.
In addition to the electrification works, the construction of a new Edinburgh Gateway Interchange station at Gogar and the subsequent redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street station will take place.
A Scottish government-funded investment worth £742m, EGIP is delivering a rolling programme of electrification across the central belt.
Transport minister Keith Brown said: “This £250m contract marks a significant milestone in the EGIP project, which will provide 20% quicker journey times, 30% more capacity and a complete overhaul of stations in both cities, with the new-look Haymarket station already completed on time and under budget and the planned transformation of Queen Street station into a 21st century transport hub.”
John Morgan, chief executive of Morgan Sindall Group, added that the company is thrilled to secure a £113m position on the ‘landmark’ project and is looking forward to continuing its successful relationship with Network Rail.
The work now getting underway builds on the successful delivery of the £80m electrification of the Cumbernauld line and the transformational, £25m redevelopment of Edinburgh’s Haymarket station, both completed earlier this year.
Rodger Querns, Network Rail programme director for EGIP, added that the programme is transformational in its scope and scale and will herald a step-change in the nature of our railway infrastructure, its resilience and reliability.
“The alliancing structure being used to deliver the electrification works will allow us to increase efficiency within the programme and deliver best value for money for the government and taxpayer,” he said.
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]