Rail travel is a crucial part of the UK transport system and with the increased demand for passenger travel and movement of freight it is potentially the most environmentally sustainable. However there are significant challenges to be overcome in providing a world class railway which meets the expectations of the 21st century. These include the demand for increased capacity on major commuter routes, the competition for train paths between the conflicting needs of passenger and freight trains, operating a 24/7 railway, modernisation of transport interchanges and the demands of the freight industry to move larger containers along routes constructed in the Victorian era.
Financing these enhancements will also be a challenge and innovative design and construction in and around the railway can realise valuable development land with consequential external investment in railway infrastructure, particularly around rail station hubs. This coupled with the governments recent commitment to a 30 year plan for the railways has resulted in an unparalleled level of investment.
Core services
The design and management of a fully integrated railway network requires the involvement and co-ordination of a wide variety of multi-disciplinary professional skills. WSP has the ability and track record to mobilise world class project teams capable of taking clients’ aspirations and delivering a quality product no matter how large or small the challenge might be.
Our team of Rail Project and Design Managers utilise the resource of WSP’s extensive in house technical skills base in building an appropriate project team. In some instances we partner with fellow professionals to ensure that our clients are provided with the best possible service and expertise.
We are working on a number of major station redevelopments including London Paddington, Birmingham New Street and our building design business has an unrivalled expertise in property development adjacent railway infrastructure including the 305m Shard of Glass project at London Bridge Station. On a smaller but no less important scale we are working closely with Network Rail on the 5 year Station “Access for All” programme and with South West Trains increasing car parking at key station locations. Support is being provided to a number of developer and industrial clients in investigating the feasibility and in progressing schemes for rail freight terminals.
Specialist skills
Our broad multidisciplinary skills enable WSP to provide a wide range of specialist engineering skills to this sector. We have delivered major projects in the UK, Europe and in Asia and offer a diverse set of services from power supply engineering, bridge and structural engineering, tunnelling, ground investigation and environmental management services. We offer asset inspection and management, infrastructure drainage and flood control, level crossings management and advisory services, passenger information systems, security and CCTV and remediation services.
We add value to rail property assets through development planning and engineering for railway land and facilities.
We are active in all aspects of the rail sector including multi-modal interchanges, freight transport planning and light rail.
Clients
Our clients include regulatory authorities, Government departments, train operating companies, asset maintainers, contractors, property developers and international financing institutions. Some of these are:
- Department for Transport
- Network Rail (UK)
- Transport Scotland
- Transport for London
- Welsh Assembly
- Southern Railway
- South West Trains
- South Yorkshire PTE
- English Partnerships
- Hammerson
- Berkley Homes