Over the past five years, the global rail market has
moved from strength to strength with specific growth being seen in
Australia, Asia, North and South America, as well as in
Europe.
In the UK, Network Rail is focussing on major projects designed
to increase capacity on the railways by lengthening platforms,
upgrading stations and renewing signalling systems. In addition,
new railways are being added to the country’s infrastructure –
Crossrail and HS2 will provide a real alternative to the ways in
which people travel across London and from the capital to the
north.
Capita Symonds is heavily involved in many of the major national
rail schemes. We are major consultant for London’s £15.9bn
Crossrail project - designing the Royal Oak, Woolwich and Plumstead
Portals, as well as the Tunnelling Academy building. We have also
recently been appointed to the HS2 design framework and in the past
have been involved in the design of HS1 and Thameslink.
Our rail expertise comprises a range of civil engineering,
architecture, E&P, permanent way, telecommunications and
environmental services. We are currently preparing the design for
the redevelopment of Gatwick Airport and Waterloo Stations together
with a number of bridge reconstructions.
Many railway organisations and contractors use Capita Symonds on
the basis of our broad knowledge of international railways and the
application of this knowledge to the UK market. Not only have we
designed and managed the construction of new railways in Kuala
Lumpur and Delhi but we have also been appointed as auditors /
technical advisors to those funding new railways. These auditing
appointments have not just been for overseas railways but also
within the UK where we have advised a number of organisations on
their economy and efficiency with respect to engineering design and
asset management.
Examples of typical projects are given below:
LGV Various Lines: Technical Advisor to funders
(2004-5)
Capita Symonds was appointed by various
funding agencies to provide technical and traffic advice in
connection with their financing of the design and construction of
new LGV lines in France, including the Sud Est Atlantique,
Pepignon-Figueres, and Nime - Montpellier lines. Our role was to
review the contract procurement proposals, technical specifications
to meet the required objectives, assessment of costs and risks
associated with delivering to programme and budget.
Delhi RRTS: Design of new 200km/h railway
(2010-2011)
Capita Symonds was engaged as engineering
designers for a new 110km long high speed elevated railway linking
the major Indian cities of Delhi and Panipat. Design was
carried out for a line speed of 200km/h and involved all railway
disciplines enabling the client to have sufficient information to
let a construction contract for not only the infrastructure but
also for the large fleet of rolling stock required to meet the four
minute headway. Included within the design were two maintenance
depots which included stabling facilities and a control centre.
TfL East London Line: Technical Auditor for design
(2006)
Capita Symonds was appointed to undertake an
independent engineer review under the Transport for London
Commissioner’s OVERSIGHT initiative to provide assurance in
connection with delivery viability of the investment programme.
Project, commercial, and technical management capabilities were
appraised along with an analysis of the engineering approach.
Metronet: Review of economy and efficiency
(2007)
Capita Symonds acted as technical advisor in
the business process review and audit to ascertain whether Metronet
was acting in an economic and efficient manner. This involved
comparing company systems with world best practice.