BAM Nuttall
Specialist civil engineering and training provider to the rail industry.

Playing to your strengths is an important consideration in the services provided by BAM Nuttall to the rail industry. The company is fully focused on providing civil engineering and training solutions for both main line and light rail and has developed an excellent reputation in these two disciplines. BAM Nuttall is owned by the major European corporation Royal BAM Group, which is based in The Netherlands. Royal BAM also has significant expertise in the rail sector, which is available to serve the UK market.

Regional and national
The company's rail business is structured on a regional basis with offices in Glasgow, Crawley and Wigan. The main civil engineering work undertaken is concentrated on the upgrading or replacement of existing structures and the provision of new structures, rather than track maintenance. A number of high profile and technically challenging projects have been carried out recently, demonstrating the breadth of BAM Nuttall's competence. These include CTRL (Channel Tunnel Rail Link) contract 103, the Trent Valley four-tracking project and the reopening of the Stirling, Alloa, and Kincardine line.

Innovation and new methods
A desire to embrace innovative technology has resulted in the completion of many complex projects, such as the recent construction of an underpass beneath the West Coast Main Line at Tipton using the box jack method. In this case, a concrete box weighing 5,500 tonnes was jacked into position in a 101-hour possession. Another innovative project completed recently was an upgrade to Hampstead Heath Tunnel on the London Overground route, utilising a ballast- less track system.

Pioneering new methods of working with customers is an important aspect of the BAM Nuttall approach to project delivery. This progressive attitude is exemplified by the work being carried out by the southern rail division for Network Rail. The original collaborative working contract was awarded in April 2001 as a two-year framework contract and has now successfully delivered £280 million worth of structures renewals. As a consequence of this success, the programme has been extended to 2012. The team is co-located in a purpose- built office and plant depot at Three Bridges near Crawley.

Civil engineering expertise
A full range of civil engineering activities are undertaken including bridge maintenance and replacement, embankment and cutting works, flood protection, tunnel and culvert maintenance. Alan Cox of BAM Nuttall, who is the Operations Director for the project, is particularly proud of the team's achievements. 'Since the contract was set up, Network Rail and BAM Nuttall have tackled over 600 projects - ranging from minor maintenance work to very complex bridge reconstructions in extremely tight possession timescales.

Within the last 40 months, over 2 million man-hours of work has been successfully completed with no reportable accidents. This form of contract encourages innovation through in-house design and allows both client and contractor to plan for the long-term, which means we are both able to optimise our resources to best advantage.'

The proof of success is in the delivery of numerous technically challenging projects - including a 300 tonne bridge lift across the Surrey Canal in London and the award-winning Clapham Junction bridge works.

Other rail networks
Light rail is becoming increasingly important to BAM Nuttall and its significant contracts include the refurbishment of the Neasden Depot for London Underground, an upgrade to the Blackpool tram network and the framework for the major building works for London Underground currently underway.

The company has firmly established itself in an important niche within the railway industry. With the advent of Crossrail, and other significant rail infrastructure investment programmes throughout the UK, the opportunities to develop further in this exciting market loop very promising indeed.

Rail training
The provision of the right level of safety training is of paramount importance. This is why a significant investment has been made to deliver Network Rail approved courses at purpose-built centres at Erith, Wigan and Halesowen. London Underground training is also delivered at Wembley.

For further details on BAM Nuttall's rail training, please contact:

Margaret Martin (Network Rail) tel: 01322 337656
email: margaret.martin@bamnuttall.co.uk
or
Fay Begum (London Underground) tel: 020 8453 5859
email: lu.training@bamnuttall.co.uk

Article courtesy of Rail Infrastructure (july / august 2009)


Further Info
Peter Bishop - Head of Public Relations & Corporate Communication
BAM Nuttall Limited
St James House, Knoll Road, Camberley,
Surrey GU15 3XW
Tel: 01276 63484
Fax:01276 66060
peter.bishop@bamnuttall.co.uk