BAM appointed on Huddersfield-Leeds rail improvements
The contractor will deliver the next phase of the Transpennine Route Upgrade West project, securing £800m of work as part of the £2bn overall programme.
The next phase of the TRUWest project will be delivered over three and a half years, completing in 2028.
It will cover a range of multi-disciplinary railway upgrades between Huddersfield and Leeds, transforming journeys and bringing more frequent, reliable and greener travel to the North.
Working collaboratively the TRUWest Alliance, made up of BAM, Arup, Amey, and Network Rail will deliver upgrades to six stations, significant earthworks, improving facilities and accessibility, as well as constructing nine new bridges and a multi-span viaduct, allowing tracks to be re-aligned, electrified, or increased in number to enable faster, more frequent electric trains.
Signalling work across 28 miles of route will increase reliability and reduce delays, while an increase in tracks from two to four between Huddersfield and Ravensthorpe aims to address journey times and congestion.
The installation of overhead line equipment will support the reduction of the UK’s carbon footprint and improve air quality, and new tracks and drainage will increase line speeds and enhance service reliability.
Nissar Mohammed, rail director at BAM, said: “BAM’s appointment to the next phase of the TRUWest project builds on over seven years of successful collaboration with our alliance partners, delivering more reliable, more accessible and greener travel across the North of England. Together with Network Rail and our alliance partners, we’ll continue to deliver engineering that will transform rail journeys and bring us one step closer to a net zero future for the UK.”
Peter Sollitt, TRU West Alliance managing director, said: “This is a major achievement and testament to the hard work and commitment from all members of the West Alliance. We recognise the significance of the largest single contract by value that Network Rail has awarded and take that responsibility very seriously.
“I would like to thank all those involved in getting us to this point and look forward to celebrating our continued success as a key part of the TRU programme.”
Projects delivered by the TRUWest Alliance in the last few years includes work along the route between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge, which now allows for electric rather than diesel powered trains to travel along the line.
TRUWest is part of the major, multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade programme, aiming to tackle issues in cross-Pennine travel, a programme that encompasses 70m of Transpennine railway and serves 23 stations, 29 level crossings, six miles of tunnels and three miles of viaduct.
