VolkerRail named as a preferred alliance partner for Midlands Rail Hub
The biggest railway upgrade in the Midlands has taken a huge step forward after four companies were identified as preferred partners for the scheme.
Midlands Rail Hub, which could cost around £1.75bn if delivered in full, will transform journeys and better connect people with opportunities, jobs, and new houses.
The government’s recent spending review committed to progress the next stage of Midlands Rail Hub, following an initial £123m released last year to design and develop major changes to the railway through Birmingham.
The preferred new alliance - made up of VolkerRail, Laing O'Rourke, AtkinsRéalis, Siemens Mobility, and Network Rail - will design and develop plans and support the build phase needed to transform passenger journeys.
This latest development is part of ongoing work by Network Rail, West Midlands Rail Executive, Midlands Connect and Department for Transport to progress Midlands Rail Hub.
The overhaul of the railway in Birmingham and the West Midlands, including changing how the city's three main stations - New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill - are served by train services from across the region and beyond, will have significant benefits to local, regional and national passenger journeys.
The biggest change will be connecting the Chiltern main line, which runs into Moor Street, with the Camp Hill lines which run towards the South West and East Midlands via two new chords in Bordesley, near Birmingham city centre.
The transformation of the network will include running more train services on key routes through Birmingham and significantly improving connections for the millions of people who use the railway every day.
Work will be prioritised to explore how smaller, but vital, pieces of work which will provide passengers and communities with quicker benefits, including new journey options and more trains can be delivered as soon as possible.
They include reopening platform 4 at Snow Hill station so additional Chiltern Railways services can run directly between Birmingham's business district and London Marylebone, and redeveloping Kings Norton station and the lines through it so extra Cross City trains can be added and new Midlands Rail Hub-enabled services can call there.
The Midlands Rail Hub will be transformational for economic growth, jobs and homes in the region, and it’s great to see this new alliance ready to deliver vital improvements that will deliver for passengers and freight. With £123 million already released to Network Rail, as part of its Plan for Change, this Government is forging ahead with its promise to create the modern transport system Britain needs and deserves.
Lord Peter Hendy Rail Minister
The alliance partners will carefully plan timescales for the development of Midlands Rail Hub with early passenger benefits expected to be realised by the early 2030s.
Stuart Birch, VolkerRail managing director, said: “We’re honoured to be selected for this significant project in collaboration with our trusted delivery partners.
“With extensive experience and expertise in developing rail infrastructure that connects communities and drives economic growth, we are proud to be industry leaders in collaborative delivery and alliancing. Our enduring partnerships with Laing O’Rourke and AtkinsRéalis has delivered proven success across major programmes, and we’re eager to bring the insights gained from our work on East West Rail Phase 2, and the Stafford Area Improvement Programme into the Midlands Rail Hub project, to meet the needs of Birmingham's social fabric.
“We’re also pleased to continue our collaboration with Siemens Mobility. Together, our experience on transformative projects such as the Transpennine Route Upgrade and the ECML power supply enhancement puts us in an excellent position to ensure seamless and effective delivery through this alliance."
Denise Wetton, Network Rail's Central route director, said: "Midlands Rail Hub is a brilliant example of the benefits the railway provides to the everyday lives of people, communities and businesses. It will connect more people with new opportunities, create new jobs and access to careers, and be a catalyst for much-needed house building.
“We are working to deliver early improvements and changes in Kings Norton and at Snow Hill to deliver benefits for passengers and communities as quickly as possible, while planning the bigger pieces of work which will enable much-wider benefits of the project.
“Identifying the preferred alliance partners is a really important step and highlights the commitment and intent to deliver a project of this size and the huge amounts of benefits it will provide to the Midlands and beyond."
John O’Connor, Laing O’Rourke’s group commercial director and Europe Hub clients & markets director, said: “Today’s announcement brings the transformation of the rail network across Birmingham and the West Midlands a step closer. The improvements will better connect communities and boost the region’s economy. The benefits will begin during construction, with the alliance partners working closely with local communities to create sustainable employment and supply chain opportunities. It’s a partnership that works. We’ve worked collaboratively alongside preferred alliance partners VolkerRail, AtkinsRéalis and Network Rail for a decade, most recently in the successful delivery of East West Rail Phase 2. We look forward to bringing our extensive rail experience to the project, and to working closely with SiemensMobility - designing and developing plans that will progress the Midlands Rail Hub.”
Colette Carroll, AtkinsRéalis UK & Ireland transportation managing director, said: “AtkinsRéalis is proud to be at the heart of the Midlands Rail Hub - a transformative investment in regional connectivity, economic growth and sustainable transport.
“This preferred alliance will bring together a wealth of expertise and experience, building on previous successes such as the East West Rail Alliance and Staffordshire Alliance. With our strong track record in the Midlands - including the redesign of Birmingham New Street - and deep experience in delivering complex UK rail projects, AtkinsRéalis brings the capability and commitment needed to help realise the full potential of this programme."
Rob Morris, Siemens Mobility UK & Ireland joint CEO and managing director for rail infrastructure and software, said: “Our advanced signalling technology will increase network capacity and enable more frequent services for passengers across the West Midlands.
“Drawing on expertise from our 5,500-strong UK strong workforce, led by our Birmingham office this investment will help in sustaining skilled jobs, supporting our local supply chain, and provide valuable training opportunities for the next generation.
“We're looking forward to collaborating with our alliance partners to transform rail travel and transport rail in ways that will drive economic growth and serve the Midlands for generations to come. This is an opportunity to work hand-in-hand with key stakeholders and local communities to ensure the Midlands Rail Hub delivers lasting benefits, for passengers, for Birmingham, and for the wider region.”
