Network Rail says that its 拢4bn, 10-year signalling plan 鈥渨ill change the face of Britain鈥檚 railway鈥�, with new equipment improving reliability through a mixture of traditional signalling and digital control.
Six companies have been awarded contracts for the provision of conventional and digital signalling services under its train control systems framework. The framework runs from 2024 until 2034.
The framework is split into separate lots for digital and conventional signalling, with the former worth 拢3bn and tha latter 拢1bn.
The selected suppliers are:聽
Lot 1: Conventional signalling
- Alstom
- AtkinsRealis
- Hitachi
- Siemens
Lot 2: Digital signalling (using European train control system technology)
- Alstom
- AtkinsRealis and CAF
- Siemens
- Thales and VolkerRail
The train control systems framework replaces the previous major signalling frameworks and has been designed to bring new ways of working between Network Rail and its signalling suppliers.
Clive Berrington, Network Rail鈥檚 group commercial & procurement director, said: 鈥淥ur new train control systems framework brings a positive change in approach to how we work with suppliers for the provision of signalling services. We will all be working much more collaboratively with each other and our relationships will feel like partnerships.
鈥淭hrough the framework, we have grown the size of the UK signalling market with the introduction of two new suppliers. These bring increased diversity and capability, leading to better market performance. We鈥檝e also brought improved visibility of our workbank for our partners which will enable them to invest in skills and innovation which will benefit the rail industry.
聽鈥淲e have set ourselves up well to deliver improved performance for passengers and freight customers, and improved value for taxpayers.鈥�
Among the initial signalling projects set to be delivered under the framework are:
- Midlands Rail Hub
- Digital signalling for the TransPennine Route upgrade
- Digital signalling for the TriLink programme.
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