Laing O'Rourke will remodel track in the Willesden area and modify the train maintenance depot. It will also provide additional sidings at Wembley to accommodate longer, five-car London Overground trains.
The contract represents the first multi-disciplinary rail infrastructure win for Laing O’Rourke in the UK, and will see the company delivering a broad package of track, overhead line and third rail electrification, depot M&E and signalling upgrades.
It is part of a wider £320m programme to increase capacity on the overground rail network in London.
“Our various rail discipline teams worked together seamlessly during the Willesden bid to ensure the project challenges were thoroughly understood and most appropriate delivery solutions developed,” said Laing O’Rourke project leader Paul Taylor.
“This project, like many rail projects, has specific challenges associated with the limited access to the tracks, amplified further at Willesden with upgrades works being delivered in and around an operational maintenance depot. Our construction smarts and approach to staging that minimizes schedule risks were key attributes to securing this important project.”
TfL director of London Overground Mike Stubbs said: “This is a key contract in the development of the network as we work to provide 25% more capacity as part of TfL’s continued investment in London Overground. It will ensure we remain able to meet the growing demand for London Overground services which – at 89% – have one of the highest levels of passenger satisfaction in London and the southeast.”
Laing O’Rourke recently began pre-construction development work with Network Rail as part of the £250m Staffordshire Alliance, which will deliver significant upgrades to the UK’s West Coast Mail Line between Stafford and Crewe. This was the first major rail infrastructure to be awarded under Network Rail’s revised procurement model, with partners Atkins, Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail and Network Rail all working together in an integrated single-team structure.
“We have shown that we have the skills, passion, innovation and ability to deliver significant rail projects across the world,” said Arith Liyanage, Laing O'Rourke rail sector leader, “but naturally we’re delighted to secure our first multi-disciplinary win in the UK."
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