Amec/Cogifer jv clinches £220m Network Rail job

Amec's rail divisions Amec Spie Rails has sealed a £200m track renewal contract from Network Rail in a joint venture with Cogifer TF of France.

The seven-year contract will include high output track renewal work across the UK's rail network.

The team will use a ballast cleaning machine and track renewal train, which will be procured under separate contracts by Network Rail over the next 18 months from manufacturers in Austria and Switzerland.

The train will enable the contractor to lay 400m of track per night, compared with the usual 800m per week.

Initial work will cover the Great Western Zone and Eastern Region utilising specialist engineering trains manufactured to meet UK specifications.

Amec will have a 50% share of the final contract value following the anticipated completion of its acquisition of Spie in March 2003.

The group is also currently bidding for further Network Rail track renewal contracts covering switches, crossings and plain line renewals.