Crossrail, the new railway for London and the South East today announced the short listed consortia and companies for the competitive tender process for its programme partner, project delivery partner and design framework agreements.

This is an important step forward in the delivery of Crossrail following parliamentary approval for this new £15.9bn rail route last month. Announcements about the appointments of the successful bidders are expected towards the end of the year.

Commenting on the announcement, Steve Rowsell, Head of Procurement at Crossrail, said: 'We have been enormously impressed by the quality and experience of the organisations that expressed an interest in these major contracts for Crossrail. It is clear that Crossrail has excited the construction industry and we look forward to working with the very best talents to ensure that Crossrail is delivered on time and on budget.'

Crossrail will be the biggest transport addition in London and the South East for 50 years, and will also be the biggest construction project in Europe. At the height of construction it is estimated that around 14,000 people will be employed.

Douglas Oakervee OBE, Executive Chairman, Crossrail London Rail Links (CLRL), said: 'This is another significant milestone for the Crossrail project as it progresses towards the construction of the railway. Crossrail is Europe’s largest construction project and the appointment of our partners is critical to the success of the project. I am heartened that the tender lists for all of these important contracts are comprised of such distinguished companies.'

Ends

For further information, please call the 24 hour, seven day a week helpline on 0845 602 3813 or e-mail helpdesk@crossrail.co.uk.


Background Notes

1. The four companies invited to tender for the programme partner are:

· Legacy 3 a joint venture between Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd and Balfour Beatty Management Ltd
· Bechtel Limited
· Transcend - a joint venture between AECOM, CH2M HILL United Kingdom Unlimited Company and Nichols Group Ltd
· Mouchel Limited

2. The five companies invited to tender for the project delivery partner are:

· Legacy 3 a joint venture between Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd and Balfour Beatty Management Ltd
· Bechtel Limited
· Laing O'Rourke Holdings Limited
· Flare - a joint venture between Fluor Ltd, Ove Arup & Partners Ltd and E C Harris LLP
· A joint venture between Capita Symonds Ltd and NNN Ltd

3. Companies invited to tender for the design framework agreements are:

· Aedas Group Ltd
· Atkins Ltd
· BDP Ltd
· Capita Symonds Ltd
· A joint venture between Faber Maunsell Ltd and Gifford Ltd
· Halcrow Group Limited
· Hyder Consulting (UK) Limited
· Jacobs Engineering U.K. Limited
· Mott MacDonald Ltd
· Mouchel Limited
· Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd
· Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd
· Scott Brownrigg Limited
· Scott Wilson Railways Ltd
· WSP UK Limited

4. Crossrail is promoted by Cross London Rail Links Ltd (CLRL). It is currently jointly owned by the Department of Transport and Transport for London. During autumn 2008 CLRL will become a wholly owned subsidiary of TfL.

5. Douglas Oakervee OBE was appointed CLRL Executive Chairman in February 2006.

6. Preparatory works for Crossrail will commence in 2009 with main construction beginning in 2010. Crossrail is scheduled to open for service in 2017.

7. Crossrail will run 118 km from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, through new twin-bore 21 km tunnels under Central London out to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, joining the Great Western and Great Eastern railway networks.

8. New stations, able to accommodate ten carriage trains, will be built at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Isle of Dogs and Woolwich.

9. The tunnelling will be through a complex sub-surface environment which contains existing infrastructure including Tube, rail and utilities tunnels.

10. When Crossrail opens in 2017 it will increase London’s public transport network capacity by 10 per cent, supporting regeneration across the capital and helping to secure London’s position as a world leading financial centre. It will cut journey times across London – Heathrow will be minutes away from the West End and 43 minutes from Canary Wharf – and deliver an economic benefit of more than £36bn to the UK economy.

11. Crossrail's £15.9 billion funding package was announced by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, on 5 October 2007.

12. The Crossrail Bill was deposited in the House of Commons in February 2005. It progressed to the House of Lords in December 2007. Royal Assent was achieved on 22 July 2008.

13. CLRL was appointed nominated undertaker for the construction of Crossrail on 24 July 2008.

Issued 22 August 2008