Construction firm Carillion has been awarded Network Rail contracts worth £111 million.

Construction firm Carillion has been awarded rail contracts worth £111 million by Network Rail. 

Leading support services, Public Private Partnership and construction company, Carillion, will work on the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link in Scotland and the Great Eastern Overhead Line Enabling Works in the South East.

The £80m contract for the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link project includes the provision of new structures, stations, earthworks, ground treatment and filling operations up to ballast level and will be completed within eighteen months.

The contract forms part of a major project to improve rail links in Central Scotland that will provide a fully double-tracked and electrified line linking communities between Glasgow and Edinburgh, incorporating the existing Drumgelloch rail branch to the west and the existing Bathgate branch to the east.

The £31m contract for the Great Eastern Line Enablement Works will be completed in 2012 and includes rewiring of the Great Eastern line from Liverpool Street to Chelmsford.

Carillion Chief Executive, John McDonough, said: “These latest contracts follow a number of other recent successes in the rail infrastructure market, including a £90m contract for the North London Line, an £80m contract for maintenance of the East London Line and our appointment as one of seven framework contractors to deliver an additional £800m of investment in track enhancements.

“These successes reflect the strong relationship we have with Network Rail and we look forward to working closely with Network Rail to deliver these important projects.”

The Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link project also involves two other contracts awarded to BAM Nuttall and C Spencer, and is expected to deliver major rail improvements for Scotland.

Scotland’s Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: “We’ll see new stations, new platforms, maintenance depots and structural work, all part of a total investment of £300m to deliver the new Airdrie-Bathgate Rail link.

“Once complete, the new line will bring real improvements for passengers, creating a fourth route between our two largest cities which will open up further economic and social benefits for communities across the central belt.”