Infrastructure firm Costain has scooped four contracts under the Department for Transport's (DfT) Specialist Technical and Commercial Advice for Rail and Other Transport Modes (STARThree) Framework.

The framework, which commenced earlier this year, will see Costain and lead partner, GHD, provide specialist consultancy advice to the UK government as it delivers critical infrastructure across road, rail and aviation.

The initial contracts, worth £1.4 million, are across the UK's transport infrastructure. Work will include providing bespoke engineering and decarbonisation advice across DfT's portfolio, a review of stations and asset management in the southeast and helping the Government understand the funding position for major investment by supplying technical expertise.


Costain and GHD are working to solve some of the UK's most pressing transportation and mobility challenges, including decarbonisation, improving reliability and levelling-up. The work builds upon the success of DfT’s previous STARTwo Framework and continues a longstanding and collaborative relationship between the DfT, Costain and GHD.

Costain will collaborate with a number of highly specialist and experienced partners, many of whom are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from across the transport industry. Across the awarded contracts, Costain will work alongside Ramboll, SLC Property, Expedition Engineering, Northstar Consultancy and the Rail Advisory Group. Collaboration with SMEs is a key target for the DfT, which set a goal of 40% SME spend as part of the framework.