Work has started on the first phase of a £250m programme to improve performance and capacity on the Stafford section of the West Coast Main Line.
Leading the works is the Staffordshire Alliance - a partnership of Atkins, Laing O'Rourke, Network Rail and VolkerRail, working as part of a new collaborative contract that will help to transform the delivery of rail infrastructure projects in the UK.
With unprecedented levels of passenger and freight growth on the rail network and the West Coast Main Line full to capacity within less than 10 years, the Staffordshire Area Improvements Programme seeks to remove a major bottleneck through the Stafford area.
Once complete, the programme will facilitate the introduction of new timetables between 2015 and 2017 and help to create the capacity to run:
The programme will deliver this through the following three key projects:
With the linespeed improvement works up and running and preparatory works in support of the other projects taking place, the Staffordshire Alliance is already rising to the multidisciplinary challenge.
Commented Dominic Baldwin, Alliance Manager: "Whilst alliancing itself is not new to the rail sector, truly collaborative working has often proved difficult due to a wide range of factors. The Staffordshire Alliance directly addresses this through a new form of contract and a new approach, built upon common principles, shared values and behaviours, which will help us to deliver this programme efficiently and effectively, whilst leaving a positive lasting legacy for Staffordshire."
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