Network Rail names track team

Carillion and Babcock have both been named as preferred bidders for train line renewals in the North West as part of £300m of contracts across several regions in the next five years.

Network Rail announced that over the five-year funding period from April 2014 to March 2019, it will renew more than 7,000km of track. Carillion will lay lines from the Midlands up into the North West, while Babcock will lay lines heading south of the Midlands.

Steve Featherstone, track programme director at Network Rail, said: "Today, there are a million more trains on our network than a decade ago and that number increases every year. Working with our delivery partners, we will deliver a massive programme of work to maintain, renew and enhance thousands of miles of track over the next five years, with the goal of providing a more reliable railway for passengers and freight."

Richard Howson, chief executive of Carillion, said: " As one of Network Rail's largest suppliers, we look forward to building on our strong relationship by working in partnership to deliver these important enhancements in order to keep pace with demand and to supporting Network Rail in achieving its objectives of creating a more reliable railway for passengers and freight."