Work Begins On Rail Sector Contract

Work has started on a major new rail sector contract, the first track section of the new Crossrail route that will be commissioned.

The 16.4-mile section, from Stratford, east London, to Shenfield, near Brentwood in Essex, forms the North East Infrastructure and Stations project which will form one end of the eastern section of Crossrail. The new route will run from Maidenhead in the west through central London and then divide, with one spur going to Shenfield and the other southeast to Abbey Wood, in Kent.


Its significance for Costain lies in the fact that it is the first time the Group has handled this type of multi-discipline rail contract and is another indicator of its transformation from a construction and civil engineering company to an engineering solutions organisation.

"It has civil, building, track work, electrification and some signalling design work," explained Costain's Director of Rail, Gren Edwards. "But it also incorporates works at 13 stations."

Much of the work will involve changing existing track configurations.

(CD/MH)