AtkinsRéalis and Arcadis joint venture appointed to £100m five-year programme partner framework for Transpennine rail upgrade.
Arcadis has been appointed by Network Rail as programme partner to support programme management for the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) through to completion. Arcadis will deliver the role via a joint venture with AtkinsRéalis.
The five-year programme partner framework is valued at up to £100m, with an option to extend up to eight years. Arcadis will provide programme and project management, programme controls and integration, data and performance analytics, schedule monitoring, risk management, strategic advisory and construction and commercial management – capabilities that help drive delivery certainty on complex, multi-site rail enhancements.
The appointment strengthens Arcadis’s position in UK rail and major infrastructure programmes, a priority market where clients are seeking enhanced programme controls, digital insight and robust governance to deliver outcomes safely, on time and on budget.
The £10.7bn TRU programme is the UK’s largest rail upgrade project, modernising 122km of railway to improve connectivity between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. Delivery is being executed through multiple alliances and project teams across the route, making integrated programme management, project controls and data-led performance oversight critical to coordinating interfaces, managing risk and maintaining delivery momentum.
Once complete, the upgrade is expected to reduce journey times to as little as 63 minutes between Manchester and York and around 42 minutes between Manchester and Leeds, and deliver greener travel through electrification of the route.
Arcadis’s delivery approach is underpinned by a strong regional footprint and a commitment to developing local capability. The team will draw on Arcadis’s Manchester, York and Leeds offices and work with local SMEs across the supply chain to support skills development and long-term social value for communities across the north of England.
Heather Polinsky, CEO of Arcadis said: “I am proud of this appointment to support programme management for the Transpennine route upgrade. This milestone aligns perfectly with Arcadis’s core mission to improve quality of life by modernising rail connections across the north. The TRU will deliver faster, more reliable, and greener travel for millions, supporting regional growth and economic opportunity. By drawing on local talent and working closely with communities, we’re not just building better infrastructure – we’re helping to create lasting benefits for people and places across Manchester, Leeds, York and beyond.”
