Four suppliers have been appointed by Network Rail to deliver a £2bn programme to electrify more than two thousand miles of Britain's railway over the next seven years, providing faster, quieter, greener and more reliable journeys for passengers and freight users and cutting the cost of the railway.

The successful bidders – Balfour Beatty, AmeyInabensa, CarillionPowerlines and ABC Electrification – will work with Network Rail to plan and deliver a range of schemes which will see key routes in England, Wales and Scotland electrified for the first time.

Once electrification schemes including the Great Western and Midland main lines, Liverpool to Manchester and Preston, the Valley lines in south Wales and the 'electric spine' from Southampton docks to the West Midlands and Yorkshire are complete, more than half Britain's rail network will be electrified with electric trains accounting for three-quarters of all traffic.

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Simon Kirby, Managing Director of Network Rail's infrastructure projects division, said: "Our work to electrify two thousand track miles represents the biggest programme of rail electrification in a generation and will provide faster, quieter and more reliable journeys for millions of passengers every week while cutting the cost of the railway.

"Thanks to a firm commitment from government to invest in electrification schemes across the country, we are transforming the railway and providing Britain with a sustainable, world-class transport system that is fit for the future. To deliver this work in the safest and most efficient way possible, we need to make the most of the huge potential within our supply chain."

Six geographic framework contracts have been awarded, with each having a defined workbank of schemes to be delivered. This approach has been endorsed by the supply chain and industry groups such as the Railway Industry Association.

Jeremy Candfield, director general of the Railway Industry Association, commented: "This is a major and very welcome step in the transformation of the railway. It will encourage suppliers to invest in the training and equipment needed for the growing national electrification programme and pave the way for suppliers’ greater involvement to maximise the efficient delivery of the projects."

(CD/JP)