No date set for Crossrail's first phase
- Published: 29 July 2008 14:59
- Author: Andrea Klettner
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 29 July 2008 14:59
The chairman of Crossrail has admitted that there is no set date for when the first phase of preliminary works will be procured, despite the Crossrail Bill getting Royal Assent last week.
Speaking to Construction News, chairman of Cross London Rail Links Doug Oakervee said: "There are a lot of agreements to be finalised before we go out to tender on the first package. We're also waiting for the secretary of state to formally appoint us to carry out the work."
These enabling works, totalling £160 million, will include utility diversions, demolition and site investigation.
The full funding package is also being finalised but Mr Oakervee said that the money needed for the first lot of contracts, worth £1 billion, is available.
The largest is a project delivery partner responsible for the central tunnel section of the programme – which runs from Paddington in the west to Stratford and Custom House in the east – as well as the associated civils, systems and stations contracts.
The value of this contract is worth between £300 and £400 million.
Bechtel, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Arup, Balfour Beatty and Thames Tideway project manager CM2Hill are all thought to be bidding for the job. A programme delivery partner is also being sought to oversee all work on the job in a deal worth £75 to £150 million.
Both contracts are for a period of 10 years but there is an option to extend the duration until the completion of Crossrail. Bidders could apply for just one or both lots.
Mr Oakervee said: "We're shortlisting these bids and that for design partner at the moment. We're expecting to appoint someone later this year."
The Crossrail Bill was approved by the House of Lords last week, granting powers to acquire land and for Crossrail to be built and maintained.
CLRL will now come under the control of Transport for London, which is responsible for carrying out the first major job on the project – the rebuild of Tottenham Court Road station.
What Network Rail is doing
Outside the central tunnel section, Network Rail is set to start £2.3 billion worth of work in 2010.
The main jobs include:
• The western part of the route will be electrified
• Paddington station will see major reworkings to its platforms and a new interchange between Paddington Crossrail station and mainline platforms will be built
• Platform extensions at over 20 stations along the route
• Station rebuilds including Abbey Wood, Ilford, Romford and Ealing Broadway Work on the Pudding Mill Lane and Plumstead portals in the east and at Paddington station in the west will be the first to start. The complex Stockley Flyover to the west of London, which includes a 1.5 km single-track viaduct that splits into two ramps, is scheduled to start later in the year.
