Merseyrail Builds Seven-Year Delivery Team for Next Generation of Network Upgrades

Eleven contractors have secured places on a new long-term construction framework that will support everything from station improvements and power infrastructure to civil engineering and specialist rail projects across the Merseyrail network.

Merseyrail has assembled a new panel of construction partners to deliver future infrastructure investment across its railway, creating a flexible framework that will support projects for up to seven years.

The agreement establishes a pre-qualified supply chain capable of delivering works ranging from smaller station refurbishments to major engineering schemes on operational railway assets, removing the need to undertake lengthy procurement exercises for every individual project.

Initially awarded for three years, the framework includes options to extend by a further four years, giving Merseyrail access to specialist contractors through to the early 2030s.

National Contractors Lead Major Works

Some of Britain's biggest infrastructure businesses have secured positions on the higher-value sections of the framework.

Kier Transportation will compete for the largest schemes valued at more than £2.5 million, while Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure has been appointed across both the medium and major project categories.

They are joined by Amalgamated Construction, Construction Marine and Spencer Rail Engineering, all of which will be eligible to deliver significant infrastructure commissions as they come forward.

Backing Regional Businesses

Merseyrail has also ring-fenced the smallest package of work exclusively for small and medium-sized enterprises, ensuring regional businesses continue to play a significant role in maintaining and improving the railway.

Successful SME suppliers include:

• Frank Rogers Building Contractor

• MPH Construction

• Simon Dean Electrical

• SIS Projects

• Vallum Projects

Meanwhile, MPH Construction and Pod-Trak have also secured opportunities to bid for larger projects within the framework.

One Framework, Hundreds of Possible Projects

Rather than focusing on a single programme, the agreement has been designed as a delivery vehicle for a wide variety of construction activities across the network.

Potential commissions could include:

• Station refurbishments and building works

• Civil engineering projects

• Electrical infrastructure upgrades

• Mechanical installations

• Trackside construction

• Fire protection improvements

• Communications and public address systems

• Heating and ventilation systems

• Platform furniture, shelters and signage

• Groundworks, excavation and reinstatement

• Landscaping and external improvements

The framework also covers work at substations and other operational railway facilities where maintaining safe and reliable services remains essential.

Faster Procurement, Greater Flexibility

Instead of allocating work immediately, Merseyrail will use the framework as projects emerge over the coming years.

Depending on the size and complexity of each scheme, contracts may be awarded directly, through competitive quotations or via mini-competitions between the appointed suppliers.

By pre-qualifying contractors in advance, the operator expects to significantly reduce procurement times and speed up project mobilisation.

No overall value has been attached to the framework, meaning there is no guaranteed workload for any of the appointed firms. Instead, it provides Merseyrail with a ready-made delivery partner network capable of responding quickly as investment priorities evolve.

Supporting the Railway of the Future

As passenger expectations continue to grow and rail infrastructure becomes increasingly complex, long-term collaborative frameworks are replacing one-off procurement exercises across much of the UK transport sector.

For Merseyrail, the new framework creates the foundations for a more agile approach to infrastructure delivery, ensuring the operator can draw on specialist expertise whenever improvements are needed while giving suppliers greater visibility of future opportunities across one of Britain's busiest urban rail networks.