The Northern Ireland public transport operator Translink is set to launch a £150M framework for railway infrastructure works, an effort that promises significant enhancement to the region’s transport network.
- This ambitious plan focuses on comprehensive works involving track, track bed, and ancillary infrastructure, indicating a pivotal development phase.
- Projects under this framework will range from minor renewals to extensive, multi-million-pound endeavours, incorporating cutting-edge construction techniques.
- Contractors must exhibit capabilities in various specialised areas, including signalling, telecoms, and civil structures, to be eligible for project participation.
- The procurement process will conclude on 30 September, appointing up to five suppliers for a period of five years, with potential extensions.
Translink, the pivotal public transport body in Northern Ireland, has embarked on an ambitious £150 million procurement framework aimed at transforming the railway infrastructure across the region. This framework, described as the Permanent Way Major Projects Framework, encompasses comprehensive works on the track, track bed, and associated railway infrastructure, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to upgrading and maintaining Northern Ireland’s transit networks.
The prospective projects span a variety of scales and complexities, encompassing everything from single-site renewals and refurbishments to larger, multifaceted projects valued at over £20 million. These projects necessitate intricate designs and the use of disruptive blockades or possessions to facilitate construction.
Potential commissions include a wide range of activities such as plain line renewal and refurbishment, switch, and crossing refurbishment, and revitalisation of level crossings. Specifically, Translink has highlighted the necessity for enhancements across several operational aspects including re-railing, rail milling, drainage, and the construction of new permanent way assets.
To effectively deliver these envisaged improvements, the appointed suppliers will be expected to demonstrate expertise not only in basic railway work but also in more specialised operations. These include interfacing with railway assets such as signalling systems, telecommunications, electrification, and related civil structures.
The framework is structured to last for an initial five years, with a possible extension of up to three years, providing a long-term strategic plan for suppliers. In a competitive selection process, Translink anticipates appointing a maximum of five suppliers, ensuring a focused and strategic approach to implementing the framework’s objectives.
This initiative marks a strategic endeavour to revolutionise Northern Ireland’s railway infrastructure, promising substantial improvements over the coming years.
