Satt Singh Basra

Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom launches £300M market engagement for Euston Engineering and Design Partner The Department for Transport (DfT) has issued a preliminary market engagement notice for an Engineering and Design Partner (EDP) to support delivery of the #Euston Programme. Delivered by the newly established Euston Delivery Company (EDC), the programme aims to transform Euston station and its surrounding infrastructure in alignment with wider regeneration plans led by Camden Council and the Greater London Authority (GLA). The appointed EDP will act as lead designer, providing multidisciplinary expertise across high-speed and conventional rail, the London Underground, and the public realm. The role will include coordinating complex design integration across the Euston campus, supporting value engineering and commercial alignment with private finance models, delivering programme planning through AI-driven tools for scheduling, costing, and forecasting, and providing technical assurance and quality review. Stakeholder engagement will extend to HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, Transport for London (TfL), Camden Council, and the GLA. The contract is valued at £300M excluding VAT and is expected to run from January 2027 to December 2031, with potential extensions into detailed design and construction phases. The market engagement process is due to open in mid to late November 2025, inviting industry feedback on tender structures, specialist capabilities, and commercial frameworks. A formal tender notice is anticipated around May 2026. Source: New Civil Engineer, 21 October 2025 – Rob Hakimian https://lnkd.in/eRpdxe-c #Infrastructure #Rail #Engineering #EustonProgramme #DfT #ProjectDelivery #UrbanRegeneration

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West Midlands engages market on collaborative approach to £1bn Metro expansion Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has launched a preliminary market engagement initiative to explore progressive and collaborative contracting approaches for a significant Metro and Rail Works projected through to 2032. This forward-looking engagement aims to shape the delivery strategy for an ambitious transport infrastructure programme estimated at over £1bn, encompassing major projects and renewals across the West Midlands region. At the heart of this pipeline are several key projects designed to enhance connectivity and support urban regeneration. The Birmingham Sports Quarter Metro Extension will add 1.5km of track from Digbeth to the new Powerhouse Stadium for Birmingham City FC and the adjacent Sports Quarter. Meanwhile, the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Extension Phase 2C will complete the final 0.5km reach into Brierley Hill town centre, enhancing access to this vital urban area. Further strategic development is outlined in the East Birmingham and North Solihull Metro Extension, which is currently in a preliminary feasibility and Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) consent phase. This future route will connect the Sports Quarter with the HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd Interchange/Arden Cross, aligning with national rail improvements and supporting broader transport integration. TfWM’s outreach event, scheduled for 16 February at The Station, Millennium Point in Birmingham, seeks wide participation from main contractors, design consultancies, joint ventures, systems integrators, specialist subcontractors and SMEs with relevant urban transport experience. These sessions are designed as two-way dialogues, incorporating market stalls, live polling, and thematic breakout discussions to foster insight-sharing and collaborative thinking on delivery models. The central objective of this engagement is to identify delivery models that offer greater certainty and speed to market for these complex infrastructure projects. TfWM is keen to discuss the applicability of emerging commercial and contractual frameworks, such as the Project 13 outcome-based and enterprise-led approaches, alongside traditional NEC and Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contracts. This strategic market engagement is positioned as a precursor to formal tender activity anticipated in 2026, with target contract starts as early as the first quarter of 2027. The West Midlands Metro is already undergoing significant expansion. A £50M extension to Wolverhampton opened in 2023, the £295M extension from Wednesbury to Brierly Hill kicked off in early 2025 and testing of the initial Eastside extension started last summer. Works to date have been delivered by the Midlands Metro Alliance, featuring Barhale Ltd, BOUYGUES UK, COLAS, Egis, Pell Frischmann, Tony Gee and Partners and Auctus Management Group Ltd, alongside WMCA. www.newcivilengineer.co.uk

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Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom tests market for privately financed HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd Euston station job The Department for Transport has fired the starting gun on private sector involvement at HS2 Euston, launching early market engagement for a design, build, finance and maintain partner on the long-delayed London terminus. Under the proposed public-private partnership, it is intended that a private sector partner would be appointed under a DBFM model to deliver the flagship HS2 terminus in London The move signals the Government’s intention to push ahead with a public-private partnership to deliver the HS2 Euston station itself, alongside confirmed public funding to bring the high-speed line into Euston. Under the emerging model, a private sector partner would take on detailed design, construction, long-term financing and ongoing maintenance of the new station under a DBFM structure. DfT said it was seeking early feedback from contractors, operators, equity investors and lenders to shape an “investable commercial proposition” and test how risk should be allocated on one of the most complex transport projects in the country. The HS2 Euston station sits at the heart of a wider Euston reset, including redevelopment of the existing mainline station, London Underground upgrades, changes to local transport and major over-station development. DfT is in the process of setting up a new Euston Delivery Company to act as the directing mind for the campus-wide programme and to support delivery of the wider masterplan being led by Lendlease. Alongside the DBFM process, the delivery body plans to procure a separate engineering and design partner to take the station design through to RIBA Stage 3 before handing over to the private finance partner. Market engagement closes later this month, with further phases expected as the commercial structure is refined. Firms with capability can formally express in interest by Wednesday 18 February through the following link. https://lnkd.in/eKq4ePzV https://lnkd.in/e8ZzXneQ

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Senior level move - East Coast Digital Programme announces new Industry Partnership Director, Sarah-Jane Crawford. East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) has announced that Sarah Jane Crawford has become its new Industry Partnership Director. She replaces Ed Akers who moves into a broader digital railway role as Industry Portfolio Director at GBRX, the strategic innovation body for Britain’s railway. Sarah Jane was previously Senior Programme Manager, East Coast Route and part of the ECDP Senior Leadership Team. She brings a wealth of project experience including from her time on Network Rail’s Anglia route when she worked on bringing Crossrail into service and on key projects including Cambridge South, Liverpool Street and Stratford. The changes take place as the Programme enters a critical phase in its journey to full ETCS operation on the Welwyn to Hitchin section of the East Coast Main Line. Sarah Jane said: “I’m excited to build on the great foundation laid by Ed, leading our great partnership at ECDP as we transform the railway, and to work closely with him to ensure a seamless relationship with the portfolio team.” Announcing his departure from the role Ed posted on LinkedIn: “My time leading the East Coast Digital Programme has come to an end. Over nearly four years, I’ve had the privilege of leading one of the most important programmes in the railway, the pathfinder toward delivering digital signalling at scale. Together, the partnership delivered many major milestones, most notably earlier this year, commissioning the Northern City Line, the first no-signals railway in the UK since the Cambrian Line in 2011. “ECDP has shown what it takes to deliver complex system change in a fragmented industry: new technology, operational realities, and deep partnership across organisations. What stands out most is the capability and leadership of people across the programme and the wider industry. That will continue to carry ECDP forward.” Describing his new role, he added: “This role will allow me to build directly on my learning from ECDP, helping the digital portfolio to strengthen delivery and grow the capability required across the industry.” Photo credit: ECDP https://lnkd.in/e47dtPzN

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The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has published a Review of the Government’s progress on rail, in the week that it marks its first 12 months in office since coming to power on 5 July 2024. Personally, I found this an encouraging read - the Review highlights a significant number of areas where progress is evident, although of course it will be something to look forward to when more of the key areas are 'green' rather than 'amber', and the 'reds' have all gone! The whole document is worth a read, but a few initial key takeaways from my perspective:- - the importance of a long term rail strategy; this strategy must include a plan to address the skills issue highlighted by the NSAR Workforce Survey, which is an issue now as well as in the future. I would also add that this strategy needs to consider the upskilling and development of the existing workforce, which will help to alleviate the future skills challenge but also serve as a way of retaining the talent in the industry that we are at risk of losing. As it currently stands, 'Promote Skills in Rail and Transport' is 'red' - and I can't stress enough how critical it is that this item is moved higher up the agenda. Or, in the event that it is already high up on the agenda, I would implore the powers that be to tell us what the plan is! - the Government has committed to publishing a 10 year Infrastructure Strategy in July 2025 (this month!), which is urgently needed by the supply chain in order that we have greater clarity on the future pipeline of work - and needs to have a detailed breakdown including budgets. - the need for the whole industry to focus on top line growth, not just bottom line cost efficiency - a clear timetable and clear leadership for rail reform are needed as soon as possible; again, this may well already be progressing 'behind the scenes' but the industry needs to see evidence of it at the earliest opportunity to alleviate the sense of uncertainty that exists. As always, I am interested to hear the views of my learned colleagues in the rail industry, so please do comment below if you feel like sharing! #rail #longtermstrategy #people #skills #talentattraction #talentretention https://lnkd.in/exGtpcHu

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‘More reliability, higher revenue and reduced cost’: Lord Hendy discusses rail reform Rail minister Lord Hendy says he expects that rail reform will bring “more reliability, higher revenue and reduced cost” on the UK’s railways. Last week, the government introduced its long-trailed Railways Bill to Parliament. This will establish Great British Railways (GBR) to bring control of the infrastructure and services under one publicly-owned entity that will be “responsible for coordinating the whole network: from track and train, to cost and revenue”, according to the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom. This, it says, will “create a simpler, more unified railway that delivers easier journeys and offers better value for money”. While the Bill has a long way to go before becoming law, with its arrival in the Lords not expected until the new year, Hendy spoke about what he anticipated the Bill will achieve in a briefing to industry journalists. “What that means in practice is that GBR, by having the necessary people to do strategic planning, will be able to present to the government the things that the railway thinks it should do in the long term, for the government to decide whether or not to do.” This long-term rail plan will be similar to those seen at regional level, like that seen with Transport for London, which is integrated with the city’s overall economic and spatial plans. Among the responsibilities of GBR, as dictated by the Bill, include the management of track access and a requirement to have a target for rail freight growth. Budgets and control periods When it comes to setting the budget for GBR for expenditure on rail infrastructure, Hendy said the Bill decrees that there will be “effective continuation of the current Control Period mechanism for operations, maintenance and renewals (OMR)”. “That’s obviously desirable,” he continued. “That’s the one thing about the present circumstances that works really well, which is a long-term funding stream for OMR for infrastructure.” The rail minister said work will soon start on calculating the budget for Control Period 8, which will cover the five-year period from 2029 to 2034. Under GBR, this is “going to be influenced more strongly by operators, because an increasing number of the train operators in Britain are going to be run by people with both operations and infrastructure alongside each other”, he said. “I would expect CP8 OMR budget to have a stronger reflection of [how] the market looks at rail travel that any of Network Rail’s previous budgets, simply because Network Rail had no information to make a judgement about the efficacy of particular levels of investment,” he added. https://lnkd.in/eSujgGfD

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🚇 Crossrail 2 Takes a Tangible Step Forward! After more than a decade of debate and uncertainty, Crossrail 2, the long-awaited north-south rail connection for London, is finally beginning to take physical shape. As part of the British Library’s £1.1 billion expansion, developers have secured planning permission, and Mace has been appointed to build railway infrastructure beneath the new offices. This will include a deep shaft reaching six underground levels and a future pedestrian passage linking Crossrail 2’s station platform to the Midland Road ticket hall. Construction is set to start in 2026, with the first phase likely completed by 2032.. While the full Crossrail 2 line (Epsom in the south to Broxbourne in the north, passing through Dalston, Angel, Clapham Junction, and Wimbledon) still awaits Government approval, this basement build represents a critical early milestone in making this vision real! Why this matters: ⚡ Strategic foresight: Embedding transport infrastructure into a major cultural expansion ensures Crossrail 2 can advance on schedule when broader approval arrives. ⚡ Boost for London’s capacity: The line promises to unlock capacity, support new homes, and improve connections across underserved areas, a vital step toward a future-ready city. Could this really be the start of Crossrail 2 and is this more than needed right now?

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Staying close to the market is absolutely essential in rail recruitment and 2026 is already shaping up to be a pivotal year for the industry. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the latest developments, and several key trends are standing out: 🚆 Major Infrastructure Momentum The government has reaffirmed funding for a range of strategic rail upgrades aimed at improving regional connectivity, unlocking housing growth and creating thousands of new jobs - including the reopening of the Portishead line, new stations in the South West and North, and significant investment into the Midlands Rail Hub and East Coast Main Line digital signalling upgrades. 🏗️ Investment Across the North Long‑awaited Northern Powerhouse Rail has been revived with a £45bn commitment to reconnect cities from Liverpool to Newcastle, alongside upgrades to TransPennine routes and plans for a new Liverpool–Manchester line. This represents one of the biggest shifts in northern rail investment strategy for years. 🔧 CP7 – Renewals, Reliability & Long‑Term Planning With CP7 now well underway, Network Rail continues to prioritise renewal of ageing assets, safety improvements, and performance stability - areas that will create continued demand for skilled engineering, commercial and project delivery professionals. 🌱 Decarbonisation & Digital Innovation From battery‑powered passenger trains being introduced into service to digital signalling rollouts, the push towards a cleaner, smarter and more resilient railway is accelerating. What does all this mean for the rail talent market? Despite some caution, the sector is still moving and demand remains strong for specialists across: • Commercial & QS • Project management • Planning & access • CRE/CEM & engineering leadership • Digital/tech‑enabled rail systems • Structures, signalling, electrification & infrastructure delivery As the industry transitions through CP7, restructures under GBR, and ramps up major regional programmes, the skills gap remains a real challenge and ensuring the right people are in the right projects has never been more important. If you're hiring, exploring new opportunities, or simply want an updated view of the market, happy to share more insights. #Rail #Recruitment #Infrastructure #RailIndustry #NetworkRail #CP7 #NorthernPowerhouseRail #RailJobs

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Britain's pothole crisis is symptomatic of deeper long-term challenges in road management. The UK is estimated to have over one million potholes (source: RAC), with the Department for Transport allocating £1.6bn of a £24bn budget to pothole repairs by 2026. While these figures seem substantial, they only scratch the surface of a much broader issue. A recent report by the Asphalt Industry Alliance estimated the cost to clear the backlog of pothole repairs at a staggering £16.8bn. It's clear: reactive repairs aren't keeping pace with the rate of deterioration, exacerbated by climate pressures and utility work. The real problem lies in the lack of comprehensive data. Many local authorities lack a full picture of road conditions, making it challenging to prioritise spending efficiently. Without a consistent, national baseline of road conditions, we end up in a costly cycle of short-term fixes. To truly address this issue, the focus needs to shift towards preventative maintenance. A national dataset that provides a road imaging survey can help allocate funds more effectively and measure results. Only then can we break free from the cycle of reactive repairs and build a more resilient infrastructure. #Infrastructure #RoadMaintenance #PotholeCrisis

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🚆 Big Wins for UK Rail! 🙌Great to see funding confirmed for several major rail upgrades: 🚂Portishead Line reopening with 3 new stations 🚂New stations at Wellington & Cullompton in Devon. 🚂Haxby Station near York 🚂Midlands Rail Hub fully backed—50+ new rail links and 13,000 construction jobs. 🚂East Coast Main Line digital signalling—cutting delays by a third. These projects will boost regional growth, create thousands of jobs, and deliver more sustainable travel. 🚉👏 https://lnkd.in/evs8xBhF #RailNews #Rail #NetworkRail #MidlandsRailHub #ConstructionEnquirer Blayne Cahill FREC, AMCIHT Oliver Gooch Emily Atkins BSc Hons MREC CertRP Brooke Stell Amy West MREC CertRP Barney Christie Jack Bartlett Callum Munn Nathan Holcroft Caitlyn Fisher BA (Hons)

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⚡UK Rail Electrification on Hold? The UK Transport Secretary has stated that “full electrification of railways isn’t affordable right now.” This means the focus is shifting toward: 🚨 Major projects like HS2 and key regional upgrades 🚨 Phased improvements instead of nationwide electrification 🚨 Further exploration into alternative technologies such as battery or hybrid trains Whilst it's understandable prioritising major projects and critical works, routes on the Midland Mainline such as Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield will suffer as they continue to use diesel and hybrid trains instead of new, fully electric trains like the other locations along the route. How do you feel the rail sector can balance urgent upgrades with budget constraints while still driving long-term sustainability? Bryony Stamper Caitlyn Fisher BA (Hons) Jack Bartlett Oliver Gooch Barney Christie Emily Atkins BSc Hons MREC CertRP Amy West MREC CertRP Olivia Woods MREC CertRP Brooke Stell Blayne Cahill FREC, AMCIHT #MidlandMainline #Electric #Sustainability #Rail #HS2 #NetworkRail #Electrification #Railway https://lnkd.in/exJjAsTF

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🚆🤑 £15bn for trams, trains & buses – a promising move Big news this week from Rachel Reeves, with £15bn announced for transport schemes outside of London – including tram extensions in Manchester, West Yorkshire mass transit plans, and upgrades across the Midlands and South Yorkshire. Finally, some funding being matched to promises! It’s a great step for regional connectivity – and hopefully a sign of more to come. Naturally, for those of us working closely in the rail space, the big question now is: when will we hear more about rail-specific budgets and CP7 funding? 💭 There’s still a lot of uncertainty, and many companies are waiting, ready to deliver – they just need the green light. Hopefully this is the start of a wider commitment to investing in transport properly! We’ll be keeping a close eye on what comes next – and hoping rail gets the clarity it needs (and deserves!) 🙏 #transportinvestment #railindustry #infrastructure #cp7 #greatermanchester #publictransport #labour #rachelreeves #trams #buses #railrecruitment #carringtonwest https://lnkd.in/epwxQ5MA

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