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Crossrail tunnel fit-out contract short-list revealed

Crossrail have announced the shortlist for the major fit-out of new rail tunnels, estimated to be worth £400m.

Construction of Crossrail’s tunnels will get underway next month when the first tunnel boring machine is launched from Royal Oak.

Balfour Beatty Rail Lrd; Alstom Transport/TSO/Costain Ltd joint venture; BAM Nuttal Ltd/Ferrovial Agroman SA/Kier Construction Ltd joint venture; Laing O’Rourke Construction Ltd/Volker Rail joint venture; and Rhombery Bahntechnik GmbH/Alpine Bau GmbH/ FCC Construction SA joint venture, are all vying for the contract.

Andy Mitchell, Crossrail Programme Director said: “Tunnel fit-out will be one of the largest contracts to be let by Crossrail and will create further employment opportunities as well as providing a welcome boost to regional suppliers.

“We received significant interest from the rail and construction industry with a large number of responses received.

“Contract will be awarded in early 2013, providing the chosen contractor with sufficient time to undertake detailed design and planning before fit-out work commences in 2014.”

As construction work concludes in 2014, the fit-out of the tunnels with track and overhead power equipment will be installed, to allow Crossrail trains to operate from 2018.

This phase of the construction includes the installation of over 40km of track, overhead electric conductor rails to power trains, and ventilation and drainage systems.

This major contract will add to employment opportunities on Crossrail, with thousands expected to be working on the project at the height of construction in 2013-15.

The fit-out works will be carried out within the entire tunnelled section of the Crossrail route between Royal Oak, Pudding Mill Lane and Plumstead Portals.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .