Network Rail Consulting Lands CHSRA Contract

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has awarded Network Rail Consulting Inc. (the U.S. subsidiary of Britain’s Network Rail Consulting) a $73.2 million systems engineering services contract. With construction under way, the company “will directly support CHSRA’s Rail and Operations Delivery Branch in a partner role through May 2029.”

Services supported by Network Rail Consulting Inc. will include asset management; rail engineering support and oversight; design and construction operations and maintenance oversight; network integration and program compliance; start-up and commissioning; Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) certification; rule of applicability; system safety and security; and track, systems, and trainsets contracts commercial support. The company will be supported by international consultants Egis Group and Ricardo, together with six local California companies—C2PM, DRMcNatty & Associates Inc., GCM Consulting Inc., Intueor Consulting Inc., LOR Consulting Group LLC, and NSI Engineering Inc.

 Alstom Transportation Inc. and Siemens Mobility Inc. have been shortlisted as qualified bidders for electrified high-speed trainsets. This development shortly followed the nearly $3.1 billion federal investment for California’s high-speed rail project, which includes trainset funding. Identification of the shortlisted teams is “an important step toward the release of the Request for Proposals (RFP) and procurement of state-of-the-art electrified high-speed trainsets capable of operating at speeds up to 220 mph,” according to CHSRA.

“Having been involved in the development of the California High-Speed Rail program since 2015, we’re delighted to have the opportunity to continue our support to the California High-Speed Rail Authority to help deliver this important investment that is poised to be one of the most transformative infrastructure programs in U.S. history,” said Network Rail Consulting Inc. CEO and Network Rail Consulting Global Managing Director Nigel Ash.

Described as “the first dedicated high-speed railway in the U.S., California’s HSR network “will see 200-mph trains linking the Los Angeles basin with San Francisco, with later branches to Sacramento and San Diego.” CHSRA is responsible for planning, designing, building and operating the HSR network, which the agency said “will eventually total 800 miles of railway with up to 24 stations. In addition, CHSRA is working with regional partners to implement a statewide rail modernization plan that will invest billions of dollars in local and regional rail lines to meet the State’s 21st century transportation needs.”