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Network Rail has named four companies as preferred delivery partners on the £1.75bn Midlands Rail Hub programme.
The alliance includes VolkerRail, Laing O’Rourke, AtkinsRéalis and Siemens Mobility.
They will support the design and development of the major transport scheme alongside Network Rail, which is leading the project in collaboration with Midlands Connect, West Midlands Rail Executive and the Department for Transport.
The project team will develop plans to transform passenger journeys through Birmingham and improve regional connectivity across the East and West Midlands, Network Rail said in a statement today (28 August).
VolkerRail, Laing O’Rourke, AtkinsRéalis and Siemens Mobility will focus on connecting the Chiltern main line with the Camp Hill lines through the construction of two new chords at Bordesley, near Birmingham city centre.
The upgrade is intended to allow more services to run through Birmingham’s main stations: New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill.
Smaller upgrades will be delivered earlier, including the reopening of platform 4 at Snow Hill station to allow additional services to London Marylebone and the redevelopment of Kings Norton station to accommodate future services enabled by the wider programme.
Early construction works are expected to begin in the coming years, with the first passenger benefits due in the early 2030s.
The government allocated £123m for the next stage of the programme in last year’s Spending Review.
The contract type has not yet been confirmed, but the four firms have a history of alliance work, having previously collaborated on projects including East West Rail Phase 2 and the Stafford Area Improvement Programme.