Balfour Beatty to Contribute to $1bn Investment in New Zealand Rail

Balfour Beatty Rail Projects (BBRP) has, in association with Maunsell and Evans & Peck, been awarded a contract by the New Zealand Rail Authority, ONTRACK, for the provision of traction design, technical support and procurement for rlectrification of the Auckland Rail Network.

The contract value is in excess of NZ$10m and is part of an overall NZ$1bn investment in rail infrastructure announced by the NZ Government in mid-2007.

The rail project represents about 175km of track electrification throughout the Auckland suburban rail network.

The main routes to be electrified run south and west from the business district of Auckland, with the southern route beginning at Britomart and heading south on the main.

The project includes the design and construction of traction overhead electrification equipment, associated support structures, high-voltage power supply cables, sub stations and feeder stations.

It also includes the provision of signalling systems and lineside equipment, together with some enabling works such as access roads, bridge clearance and containment improvements.

BBRP will manage the overall design process and will also lead the design of the overhead electrification system that will include system, basic and installation design processes.

The power and distribution design and procurement team will be provided by Maunsell along with other sub-consultant Evans & Peck.

Managing director of BBRP, Richard Adams said: "New Zealand represents a new territory for our company and we look forward to working with ONTRACK and demonstrating Balfour Beatty Rail's extensive electrification abilities there."

The electrification project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2013.

By Daniel Garrun