Balfour Beatty’s £110m deal for Tube engineering

Commuters can expect to see Balfour Beatty-branded hi-visibility vests around the Tube network after the construction giant was today awarded a £110 million contract to carry out engineering work on six London Underground lines.

It won the five-year deal from the Underground to carry out track renewal work on two thirds of the Tube network — the Bakerloo, Circle, Central, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.

Balfour will replace ballasted track, points and crossings, signalling and drainage works, starting in spring next year. It could then win a two-year extension of the deal.

Balfour Beatty's chief executive Ian Tyler said: "We are very pleased to be part of such a crucial project, working in partnership with London Underground to deliver a world-class transport system for London."

David Waboso, of London Underground, said: "With the introduction of a new fleet of 191 air-conditioned trains and a new signalling system on the Metropolitan, District and H&C lines, the track has to be ready for an increase in usage of up to 40%. Combining both track renewal and drainage works will mean that the work will be carried out more efficiently.

"Balfour Beatty tendered detailed proposals for reducing costs and we will work closely with them to achieve efficiencies and drive down costs."