Tom Cunningham, Balfour Beatty New Track Construction (NTC) Machine Operations Manager, has featured in Transport Infrastructure News discussing how our NTC machines are revolutionising track laying on the East West Rail project

In the article, Tom explains how the East West Rail Alliance – consisting of Atkins, Laing O’Rourke, Network Rail and VolkerRail – are utilising Balfour Beatty’s NTC machines to reinstate a section of the former Varsity Line between Bicester in Oxfordshire and Bletchley in Buckinghamshire, driving significant productivity and safety efficiencies in the process.

The overarching programme, promoted by the East West Railway Company, ultimately aims to connect Oxford in the west with Cambridge to the east, after the railway between the two university cities was mothballed during the 1960s.

Having already delivered 27 kilometres of track on the project since 2020, the pioneering technology can lay track much faster than conventional construction methods. In addition, because the NTC machines require less plant and personnel on the tracks, it reduces risk for operatives.

Speaking to Transport Infrastructure News, Tom said: “In a typical weekend possession there are about 54 hours where we get the passenger trains stopped before they start again on Monday morning. We can deliver more new track per weekend using these machines.”

To learn more about Balfour Beatty’s NTC machines and the efficiencies they have delivered to the East West Rail project, read the full article here.

ENDS

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Notes to editors:

• Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group with 24,500 employees driving the delivery of powerful new solutions, shaping thinking, creating skylines and inspiring a new generation of talent to be the change-makers of tomorrow.  
• We finance, develop, build, maintain and operate the increasingly complex and critical infrastructure that supports national economies and deliver projects at the heart of local communities. 
• Over the last 113 years we have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world including: the £1.5 billion A14 improvement scheme - Britain's biggest road project; Hong Kong's HK$5.5 billion world-class harbour theatre project for the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority; and the 12.5-mile $429 million North Metro Commuter Rail line in Colorado, US.
• Balfour Beatty is one of the UK’s leading rail infrastructure suppliers. From feasibility studies, planning and design through to implementation and asset management, we provide multi-disciplinary rail infrastructure services across the lifecycle of rail assets. Our expertise covers electrification, track, power, civils, specialist rail plant, railway systems and technologies.
• Balfour Beatty also provides a comprehensive range of on-track machines for track geometry improvements and general track works. Our fleet of modern ‘Tampers’ consist of plain line machines and switches and crossing units. Along with our expert operators and support staff these machines ensure track quality for our customers.

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