Network Rail has announced the award of six multi-million-pound ‘framework’ contracts to deliver signalling and telecoms projects throughout the country; these are worth an estimated £750 million for Control Period 6 (2019-2024).

The signalling and telecoms (S&T) frameworks, which are split into six geographical lots, have been awarded to Volker Rail Special Businesses Ltd (London North West), Atkins Ltd (Anglia, South East and Wessex), Linbrooke Services Ltd (London North East), Babcock Rail Ltd (Scotland), Colas Rail Ltd (Western) and Siemens Mobility Ltd (Wales).

The frameworks will involve projects of varying value, including stand-alone level crossings, stand-alone major telecoms projects and related civil-engineering works.

Martin Robinson, commercial director (signalling) (www.networkrail.co.uk), said: “The S&T framework awards are the first awards in a three-tier approach to signalling delivery for CP6.

The awards have gone to organisations that between them have many years of signalling experience on our railway and will help Network Rail to facilitate key signalling renewals over the coming years.”

The remaining two tiers — minor signalling and major signalling — will target simple component replacement, and major re-signalling and re-control respectively.

They will complete the three-tier strategy for CP6 signalling delivery when they are awarded (in June 2019 and January 2020).