Atkins secures support role on Northern Powerhouse Rail programme

Atkins – a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group - has been appointed to support the engineering development of the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) programme.

As Infrastructure Delivery Partner (IDP), Atkins will work alongside Transport for the North (TfN), the Department for Transport, and delivery partners Network Rail and HS2 Ltd to develop the Strategic Outline Case and Phasing Options Strategy for the transformative scheme which is designed to unlock the economic potential of the North.

The IDP role adds to the specialist engineering services already being provided by Atkins which includes tunnelling, electrification and track alignment design, and the Rail Modelling and

Appraisal Partner role which is examining the anticipated impacts on travel behaviours and patterns.

The NPR programme is set to deliver a transformed network in the North of England that will advance regional infrastructure, the economy, quality of life, education and the environment. It will be the region’s single biggest investment in transport since the industrial revolution, and investment in this infrastructure will provide the following benefits:

• unlock place improvement valued at up to £15bn
• improve air quality and reduce emissions by taking 64,000 car trips per day off the road
• a mix of new and significantly improved railway lines to strengthen regional, national and international connectivity, free up capacity on existing network and speed up freight movements
• more reliable commutes, quicker journeys and easier access to new employment and leisure opportunities
• deliver improved productivity and help to rebalance the UK economy with greater trade and growth opportunities in the North

Julie Hurley, Strategic Rail Client Director at Atkins, said: “The NPR programme is much more than an infrastructure project – it has the potential to be a social and economic catalyst for the region, as we look to level up the economy and opportunities across the UK.

“Having worked closely with TfN for the last 3 years in developing the plans for NPR, we now look forward to advancing the programme as part of an integrated delivery team.”

About Atkins

Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies, employing over 18,300 people across the UK, North America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe. We build long-term trusted partnerships to create a world where lives are enriched through the implementation of our ideas. You can view Atkins’ recent projects here.

About SNC-Lavalin

Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world. SNC-Lavalin connects people, technology and data to help shape and deliver world-leading concepts and projects, while offering comprehensive innovative solutions across the asset lifecycle. Our expertise is wide-ranging — consulting & advisory, intelligent networks & cyber security, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and sustaining capital—and delivered to clients in four strategic sectors: EDPM (engineering, design and project management), Infrastructure, Nuclear and Resources, supported by Capital. People. Drive. Results. www.snclavalin.com

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