AtkinsRealis appointed to alliance delivering England's Midlands Rail Hub program

Executive Summary

• AtkinsRéalis has been selected by Network Rail to join an alliance (with VolkerRail, Laing O'Rourke, Siemens Mobility) to design and develop the £123 million funded Midlands Rail Hub program in England’s West Midlands.
• The eight‑year programme could ultimately cost ~£1.75 billion and is expected to deliver up to 300 additional daily train services by the early 2030s, reconfiguring Birmingham’s three main stations and improving connectivity for over 50 locations across the Midlands and Wales.
• The appointment leverages AtkinsRéalis’ existing UK rail portfolio (e.g., East West Rail, Network Rail’s Train Control Systems Framework) and expands its engineering services footprint in a high‑growth transport infrastructure market.

Key Details

• Alliance Partners: VolkerRail, Laing O'Rourke, Siemens Mobility, Network Rail.
• Program Funding: £123 million of UK government funding allocated for design and development work.
• Projected Total Cost (if fully delivered): Approximately £1.75 billion.
• Timeline: Eight‑year design and development phase; early passenger benefits anticipated in the early 2030s.
• Service Impact: Up to 300 extra trains per day on the West Midlands rail network; reconfiguration of Birmingham New Street, Moor Street, and Snow Hill stations; new connections between main lines serving >50 locations across the Midlands and Wales.
• Scope of Services Provided by AtkinsRéalis: Multi‑disciplinary design, engineering leadership, project management & controls, commercial & risk management, environment & consenting.
• Relevant Past Experience Cited:
• Upgrading signalling under Network Rail’s £4 billion Train Control Systems Framework.
• First stage delivery of the East West Rail programme (Oxford‑Cambridge link).
• Railway Systems Integration Partner for the East Coast Digital Programme (in‑cab digital signalling on the East Coast Main Line).
• Quotes:
• Ian L. Edwards, President & CEO – highlighted government investment as essential for economic growth and transformative place‑led development.
• Chris Ball, President, UK & Ireland – emphasized AtkinsRéalis’ proven credentials and the collaborative alliance model.

Notable Quotes

“Government investment in rail infrastructure is essential to improving connectivity and supporting economic growth,” said Ian L. Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer, AtkinsRéalis.

“AtkinsRéalis brings proven credentials to the Midlands Rail Hub… The alliance model enables us to work collaboratively with our partners to deliver the design and development work that will reshape connectivity for millions of people.” – Chris Ball, President, United Kingdom and Ireland, AtkinsRéalis.