Bam wins £220m Borders Railway contract

Network Rail has appointed Bam Nuttall as main contractor to build the £220m Borders Railway in Scotland.

The Borders Railway – which will enter service in 2015 – will re-establish a passenger rail link between Edinburgh and Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders for the first time in 40 years.

The line will include 30 miles of new railway with three existing stations and seven new ones – at Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank.

Network Rail said the construction programme would create 500 jobs.

David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “The appointment of BAM Nuttall as our main contractor signals the start of the delivery of the new railway for the communities it will serve.

“BAM Nuttall has already been working closely with Network Rail in drawing up initial designs for the new line and can now carry that momentum into the delivery of the main construction phase as we work to complete the new line for the start of services in 2015.”

Stephen Fox, chief executive of BAM Nuttall, said: “We are delighted to be starting work on delivering this significant rail project on behalf of the people of Scotland and our customer Network Rail.

“This scheme brings together the engineering strengths of the BAM Group and will create significant local employment opportunities. In addition it will provide a much needed rail link to those rural communities living in the Scottish borders region”.