Manchester company wins lucrative London Underground contract

A North West engineering company has been awarded a £1.4m contract to refurbish part of the London Underground.

As part of the Underground’s rebuilding programme, R&B Group, based in Heywood, Lancashire, will begin work on the the network’s electrical switchgear this autumn.

The Group will work with UK Power Networks Services (UKPN Services) to design and manufacture Low Voltage and Medium Voltage switchboard panels for the SSR3B project on the District Line.

The aim of the project is to upgrade substations and cables as part of a wider programme that will see the introduction of new rolling stock and signalling systems, increasing passenger capacity and improving journey times.

Speaking of the contract, R&B Group managing director, Mark Beswick, said: “The Tube is the oldest underground railway network in the world and is under increasing demand to deliver the extra capacity needed.

“The new switchgear panels will improve the efficiency of the Underground’s power systems and help the company deliver a leading transport service.”

The project will take more than 12 months to complete and will be constructed at R&B’s dedicated workshop in Manchester.

With around 3.5 million journeys stopping at a total of 270 stations each day, R&B will need to work closely with the team at London Underground and UKPN Services to ensure a successful handover.

As a leading manufacturer of both AC and DC switchgear, R&B operates worldwide on the maintenance of switchgear, circuit breakers and all ancillary equipment.

Mark commented: “With our previous experience working with the Maryland Transit Authority in the USA, Network Rail and the Philippines Light Rail Transit Authority, we understand the challenges of supporting a travel service of this scale.

“We will need to work to a strict timeframe to ensure that the work does not impact the day-to-day running of the Underground or any further repairs.”

Speaking of the project, Geoff Corcoran, engineering manager at UKPN Services, said: “Having worked with the team on past projects, we are confident in their ability to deliver the results we need on time and within budget.”

The R&B Group operates across the marine, offshore, power and industrial sectors and boasts a portfolio of blue-chip customers including Shell, BP, P&O and Talisman.