Network Rail to discuss Crossrail project delivery partner today

Network Rail is set to discuss the selection for the £100m+ project delivery partner role for its share of the Crossrail project and Reading station redevelopment today.

Simon Kirby, director of infrastructure and investment, indicated that a winner could be announced as early as this week.

However if a final decision is not made in today's board meeting, any announcement could be deferred by up to a month.

The five bidders in the frame for the deal are thought to be: Atkins Balfour Beatty, Bechtel, Bovis Lend Lease, Jacobs and Mace.

Network Rail is due to spend £2.3bn on its share of the Crossrail works, with a further £644m on Reading station.

Kirby also said that Network Rail's suppliers would need to work with it to achieve innovation if the company is to meet the scope of its ambitions within the £35bn budget it has to spend over 2009/10-2013/2014 (CP4).

"To deliver a seven day railway, we have to deliver innovation.

"We are going to be more and more discerning into CP4 as to who we choose to work with to deliver these projects," he said.