AtkinsRéalis has been awarded a £98.5m contract by Network Rail to upgrade signalling and telecommunications infrastructure in Wessex, southern Britain, through the Havant Relock & Re-control project.
The three-year programme will be delivered by a Network Rail and AtkinsRéalis integrated project team, covering 43 kilometres of railway near Portsmouth spanning 11 stations, 10 interlockings, four level crossings and associated signalling power and telecommunications systems. The project will replace obsolete systems and target a significant reduction in signalling-related delays, improving reliability and performance for passengers and freight operators.
Scott Kelley, Managing Director of Complex Projects, AtkinsRéalis, said: “This project will significantly improve network performance throughout Wessex, benefiting passengers and freight operators. AtkinsRéalis brings deep expertise in rail signalling, covering both conventional and digital technologies, and the scale of this award reflects Network Rail’s confidence in our capability to deliver.
“Our track record in the region, combined with our commitment to working collaboratively with the supply chain including SMEs, will support successful delivery of this complex programme, improving reliability for communities and businesses across the region.”
The Wessex Route connects London with Portsmouth and Southampton, two of Britain’s major ports and industrial centres which serve as important gateways for trade and are receiving significant government investment. The route is part of South Western Railway & Network Rail Wessex’s £2 billion investment programme to modernise the railway across the South West into London between 2024 and 2029¹.
The project involves the relock and recontrol of the Havant Area Signalling Centre on the Wessex Route to the Basingstoke Regional Operating Centre. Work has commenced with engineering, procurement and construction now underway.
The project will be delivered by Network Rail and AtkinsRéalis within the Southern Integrated Delivery (SID) programme under the Southern Renewals Enterprise (SRE). The contract was awarded through Network Rail’s £4 billion Train Control Systems Framework, which AtkinsRéalis secured a place on in September 2024.
AtkinsRéalis’ appointment builds on its extensive rail infrastructure portfolio across the UK, including delivery of the £1.2 billion East West Rail Phase 2 programme, its position as Railway Systems Integration Partner for the East Coast Digital Programme and most recently, part of the alliance delivering the £1.75 billion Midlands Rail Hub.
Image credit: AtkinsRealis
