Key metrics
0
efficiency accrued to date
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saved through foundation value engineering
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OLE foundations planned or underway
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main line and auxiliary wiring
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potential annual carbon saving programme-wide
Overview
The Transpennine Route Upgrade is transforming one of the North of England’s most important rail corridors. Funded by the Department for Transport and delivered by Network Rail through dedicated alliances and project teams, the programme will improve the 70-mile route between Manchester and York, via Huddersfield and Leeds. Within TRU West, Amey’s Rail Systems team is delivering a major overhead line equipment (OLE) scope across a complex, live rail environment from west of Huddersfield through to Leeds.
During a 28-day full access period from 30 May 2026, Amey used the opportunity to accelerate electrification works across the eastern section, from Morley station through to the Leeds intersection. The team installed major steelwork, small part steelwork and foundations while integrating closely with track, civils, logistics, design and alliance partners. The work supports the wider move to a cleaner, more reliable and higher-capacity railway, enabling future electric services and contributing to the programme’s carbon, capacity and resilience goals.
At a glance
- Supported a nationally significant rail upgrade across the 70-mile Transpennine main line.
- Delivered OLE works during a 28-day full access period, maximising a tightly controlled possession window.
- Progressed steelwork, small part steelwork and foundations across the Morley to Leeds section.
- Used integrated planning, pre-built components and compound-based logistics to improve site efficiency.
- Developed a bespoke tunnel drilling solution to support future 25kV AC electrification through Morley Tunnel.
Balancing scale, safety and passenger disruption
TRU West had to make significant progress on electrification while managing a large and constrained railway footprint. The route includes critical commuter links into Manchester and Leeds, multiple disciplines working in close proximity, and complex interfaces with track, civils, tunnel, viaduct and station works. Every activity had to be planned around passenger and freight disruption, engineering train movements and the safe use of scarce access windows.
For Amey, the challenge was to maximise output without compromising safety, quality or programme integration. The OLE team needed to install foundations, major steelwork and small part steelwork across different construction units, while coordinating materials, plant, design readiness and site logistics. Morley Tunnel added another level of complexity. As a 3km Victorian brick tunnel with air shafts, it required a specific delivery method to support future electrification without relying on conventional approaches that would be slower, less efficient or harder to integrate with other workbanks.
Integrated planning that maximised every access window
Amey’s Rail Systems team led the OLE delivery for TRU West, working alongside alliance partners, design teams, track and civils colleagues, logistics teams and specialist supply chain providers. The team’s strategy was to use each access opportunity as efficiently as possible, increase output rates and maintain a clear line of sight to future entry-into-service milestones in 2028.
- Integrated delivery planning: work was managed through a T-minus planning cycle, with the programme locked down 12 weeks out and tested through integration meetings and whiteboard reviews.
- Design and construction alignment: Amey worked closely with design partners to make sure approved-for-construction designs were practical, buildable and ready for efficient installation.
- Smarter logistics: materials and logistics teams based in Manchester pre-built key components and moved steelwork, small part steelwork and foundation materials to agreed compound locations along the route.
- Reliable plant and people: TRU’s collaborative plant family and established labour framework providers helped maintain continuity, plant reliability and quality outputs across the footprint.
- Progressive assurance: shift reports, Power BI data and close-out processes gave the team live visibility of progress, issues and assurance requirements.
A standout part of the approach was the solution for Morley Tunnel. Amey Consulting, with construction input from the delivery team, developed a bespoke mechanical drilling rig that can drill multiple anchor holes remotely from a rail-mounted vehicle. The rig follows a set pattern to reflect the design, allowing the site team to install and resin anchor bolts ready for the brackets and OLE equipment that will carry future tensioned conductors.
Efficient delivery supporting a cleaner rail future
Amey’s work has helped TRU West maintain momentum across a demanding electrification programme. By combining early integration, practical design input, efficient logistics and progressive assurance, the OLE team made strong use of a limited 28-day access window and supported the wider programme objective of a more reliable, higher-capacity and lower-carbon railway.
- Achieved around £18 million of accrued efficiency to date across the OLE contribution and wider Rail Systems / Alliance activity.
- Delivered a £5 million saving through value engineering and selection of more time- and cost-efficient foundation types.
- Progressed installation activity across more than 1,000 OLE foundations, fabricated steelwork, fixings, viaduct and tunnel attachments, and route-wide bonding and immunisation requirements.
- Supported future installation of approximately 140,000 metres of main line and auxiliary wiring.
- Helped enable electric trains that can reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, supporting the programme’s aim to save up to 87,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
- Contributed to proposals that could support up to 15 more freight trains per day and remove more than 1,000 lorries from roads each day.
Testimonial
“The successful delivery of these blockades demonstrates the value of a truly integrated Alliance, where collaboration, innovation and shared accountability are central to every stage of delivery. Through close collaboration across planning, design and construction, the OLE team has consistently maximised constrained access opportunities while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality and performance. Their professionalism, engineering expertise and commitment to continuous improvement with the recent bespoke mechanical drilling rig innovation demonstrates the value Amey OLE team bring to the Alliance in helping are helping to deliver the infrastructure that will enable a more reliable, resilient and sustainable railway for the North.”