Colas Rail Ltd, a subsidiary of Colas Rail in the UK, has secured three contracts with Network Rail: a rail systems alliance contract, a signalling and telecoms framework contract and a rail haulage contract. 

The first of these contracts involves the Rails Systems Alliance in the South. It was awarded to Colas Rail Ltd and AECOM to deliver rail system works including track renewals, signalling, electrification and civils works for the South of England worth an estimated £1.5bn (roughly 1.7 billion euros). The 10 year contract spans Control Periods 6 (2019-2024) and 7 (2025-2030)* creating an alliance between Network Rail, Colas Rail Ltd (installer) and AECOM (designer) covering the Anglia, South East, Wessex, Western and Wales routes. 

The second contract awarded to Colas Rail Ltd covers signalling and telecoms (S&T) frameworks for the western region, worth an estimated £75M (roughly 85 million euros) for control period 6, including stand-alone level crossing renewals, life extension works, telecoms renewals and related civil engineer works. Colas Rail Ltd will be involved from design, construction, testing and commissioning of signalling and telecoms works. 

Network Rail has also awarded Lot 1 and Lot 5 of the rail haulage and seasonal service contract to Colas Rail Ltd worth an estimated £12m per year (roughly 13.5 million euros). Colas Rail Ltd will deliver haulage for bulk ballast and will be operating the snow and ice treatment trains. 

These new contracts will play a key role in improving the network’s performance and reliability for both users and freight. 

Jean-Pierre Bertrand, CEO, Colas Rail UK, explains: “These contract wins demonstrate that we are a major player in Control Period 6 and I am extremely proud of the talented people we have at Colas Rail UK who have made this possible. The continued hard work and dedication is visible and it is clear that we are committed as always to delivering a best in class service to users of Network Rail.” 

* Control Periods are the 5-year timespans into which Network Rail, the owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain, works for financial and other planning purposes.