Network Rail has announced BAM Nuttall will be among six trusted suppliers involved in delivering Wales and Western region’s £2bn programme of works over the next eight years.

The awarded contracts play a key part in a new way of working where Wales and Western region will work collaboratively with trusted suppliers over a longer term to deliver faster and more efficient projects, achieving greater value for money for the public purse.

The contracts cover essential renewals to buildings and structures, like bridges, tunnels, culverts and drainage, as well as supplying and maintaining electrification and plant. BAM Nuttall will be responsible for geotechnical and off-track drainage package.

Following industry, government and supplier feedback on best practice, Wales and Western have put in place contracts which will cover projects from 2024 to 2029 (Control Period 7) with options to extend to a maximum total of eight years.

This new approach will enable BAM Nuttall to work with Wales and Western much more collaboratively across a longer-term pipeline of work. By packaging the work into one portfolio there is expected efficiencies in time and cost through best use of resources, consistency, and continual improvement as well as better coordinated access to the railway and a focus on innovative solutions.

The longer-term collaboration and commercial focus will help improve how Network Rail designs, plans and develops projects to deliver better outcomes for passengers, freight and funders.

Richard Foster, project manager at BAM Nuttall, said: “We are delighted to be working collaboratively with NR and SMEs to increase sustainability, efficiencies and working with local communities throughout CP7 while maintaining our excellent record of keeping our colleagues, stakeholders and passengers safe.”

Stuart Calvert, capital delivery director for Network Rail’s Wales & Western region, said: “We have made real progress in transforming the delivery of our investment projects, reducing the time and cost of our work, as we saw with completion of the Dartmoor Line to Okehampton.

“We're taking this same approach to our renewals, and it's very important that we select excellent suppliers and work collaboratively to get the same sort of benefits which will ultimately support better service for our passengers and freight customers. I'm very excited with these new contracts and look forward to developing the portfolio of works with them.”