Network Rail cuts it fine on renewals

Network Rail (NR) has urged contractors not to panic over an apparent delay in awarding its renewals contracts, with some form of announcement expected in the next two weeks.

The five-year plain line and switch and crossing installation contracts were due to be awarded at the end of last year.

One insider said the operator is "cutting it fine".

"If it doesn't get things into place soon it could run past the April deadline. This would mean that the operator would have to ask incumbent contractors to temporarily extend their contract period while the agreements are awarded," said the source.

"If this happens, contractors could hold Network Rail to ransom following the bitterness caused by their maintenance contracts being brought in-house."

However, an NR spokesman assured CJ that there would be a staggered roll-out of contracts - grouped into pairs - which will start within the next two weeks.