Section one: Contracting entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
Waterloo General Offices
London
SE1 8SW
Contact
Louise Mackay
Louise.Mackay@networkrail.co.uk
Telephone
+44 1908781000
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.6) Main activity
Railway services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Midlands Rail Hub Alliance – Alliance Partners (Non-Signalling Disciplines)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 45234100 - Railway construction works
two.1.3) Type of contract
Works
two.1.4) Short description
Network Rail is responsible for maintaining, developing and operating Great Britain's railway infrastructure. The Midlands Rail Hub (MRH) is a programme of works covering a series of multidisciplinary infrastructure interventions to be undertaken across the West, Central and East Midlands of the UK. MRH will deliver a number of additional services between central Birmingham and key regional cities and transport hubs.
The MRH programme will be delivered through an Alliance delivery model with Alliance members consisting of:
- Network Rail (having two roles – one as a member of the Alliance and the other as Client);
- Multi-Disciplinary Partner(s) (covering all disciplines except signalling, power and communication roles set out in the Alliance scope document) appointed pursuant to this Contract Award Notice; and
- A Signalling Partner (covering the signalling, power and communication roles set out in the Alliance scope document) appointed via a separate sourcing event.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £1,380,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 45100000 - Site preparation work
- 45111213 - Site-clearance work
- 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
- 45210000 - Building construction work
- 45213320 - Construction work for buildings relating to railway transport
- 45213321 - Railway station construction work
- 45221112 - Railway bridge construction work
- 45221122 - Railway viaduct construction work
- 45221242 - Railway tunnel construction work
- 45232210 - Overhead line construction
- 45234100 - Railway construction works
- 45234114 - Railway embankment construction work
- 71321000 - Engineering design services for mechanical and electrical installations for buildings
- 71322000 - Engineering design services for the construction of civil engineering works
- 71332000 - Geotechnical engineering services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The key objectives of MRH are to improve connectivity across the Midlands region; boost economic growth; maximise use of HS2 to London through interchange in Central Birmingham; improve access to jobs, leisure, healthcare, and education; optimise the utilisation of station capacity in central Birmingham; and make rail journeys more attractive and encourage modal shift to rail.
The scope of the Alliance includes, but is not limited to, the design and build of: new platforms and sidings; up to two new chords into Birmingham Moor Street; widening of existing viaduct; power supply upgrades; new freight loops; new overhead line equipment (OLE) and various signalling works including the re-modelling of existing layouts.
The MRH programme consists of multidisciplinary infrastructure interventions are split over three sections described as West, Central and East according to the additional train services that they enable. The scope is currently divided into eight interventions across the three sections: West & Central Midlands interventions at Snow Hill, King’s Norton to Barnt Green (and interventions at King’s Norton and Barnt Green) and Birmingham Bordesley to Moor Street are in the process of securing final funding approval and are intended to be the initial deliverables. Additional interventions are also in scope of MRH and may be delivered subject to funding decisions and design development including West & Central interventions at Worcester to Hereford and Stoke Works Junction and East Midlands interventions at Water Orton and Nuneaton to Wigston.
East interventions are at an earlier stage of design development and are intended to form part of a separate business case; these interventions are subject to future funding decisions. It is also envisaged that the West intervention of Worcester-Hereford will be delivered by the Alliance but does not form part of the initial deliverables and is dependent upon as yet uncommitted renewals in the Worcester area.
The total Alliance Anticipated Final Cost (AFC) excluding VAT is circa £1.1m--£1.5bn GBP.
The AFC is split between the initial deliverables and additional interventions as follows:
- Initial deliverables (predominantly interventions in West and Central) are circa:
- Multi-Disciplinary (non-signalling, power and communications): £700m-£800m GBP (excluding VAT)
- Signalling, power and communications; £150m-£250m GBP (excluding VAT)
- Additional interventions (predominantly East) are circa:
- Multi-Disciplinary (non-signalling power and communications: £250m-£350m GBP (excluding VAT);
- Signalling, power and communications; £50m-£100m GBP (excluding VAT)
These figures are indicative only.
Network Rail has appointed all Partners to the Alliance using a modified NR35 Alliance Contract (based on the NEC4 Alliance Contract). Network Rail and each of the Partners have signed one Alliance contract.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-006185
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
ecm_49994
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
17 December 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
VolkerRail Limited
Hoddesdon
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Laing O'Rourke Delivery Limited
Dartford
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
AtkinsRealis UK Limited
Epsom
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £103,509,864
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of England and Wales Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC1A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
High Court of England and Wales Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
W1CA 2LL
Country
United Kingdom