🚉 Rail
In rail news, work is underway on the installation of roof beams for a new 300metr long twinbox structure over the M42 near Solihull as part of the HS2 project. Once complete, vehicles will travel through the structure while high speed trains run above. Following the completion of the supporting walls and central columns, engineers will now install 175 prefabricated beams over four weekends between June and September. The project uses a modular construction approach, helping to minimise disruption and reduce motorway closures.
Greater Manchester Mayor, and now newly elected MP, Andy Burnham has said he would revive the northern leg of HS2 between Birmingham and Manchester if he became prime minister. The northern extension of the high-speed rail project was cancelled by the previous government in 2023 due to rising costs, and the current Labour government has confirmed it will not be reinstated. However, Burnham says he would bring the scheme back and fund it through a Crossrail style funding package.
Infrastructure engineering firm Amey has secured two major framework contracts with Network Rail’s Eastern Region, worth a combined £40M over five years. The contracts will see Amey provide structural assessment services across key rail routes, including the East Coast Main Line, Anglia, East Midlands, and North & East regions. Building on more than 20 years of experience in the area, Amey will assess railway bridges and other structures to help ensure the network remains safe, resilient, and capable of meeting future demands.
🛫 Ports & Aviation
Ports are under increasing pressure to upgrade ageing, safety critical infrastructure while keeping operations running. With stricter guidance on berth side safety systems, especially at liquid bulk terminals, upgrades must be delivered without disrupting live activity. As a result, more operators are using integrated engineering teams to coordinate civil, mechanical, electrical and control works in active environments.
London Gatwick Airport has appointed 11 contractors, including Costain, Mace and Morgan Sindall, to deliver its capital investment programme over the next four – six years. The work will cover upgrades to terminals, piers and passenger facilities, and aims to improve efficiency, passenger experience and sustainability.
⚡Energy
Merseytravel has launched a new £12M electrical engineering framework to support maintenance and infrastructure upgrades across the Liverpool City Region transport network. Running from 2026 to 2030, the framework will cover works at stations, depots, tunnels and other transport assets, helping to improve reliability, resilience and sustainability.
A government commissioned Ramboll study found that undergrounding 20-50km of electricity transmission lines is more expensive than using overhead pylons. While the issue has long been debated owing to the visual impact on landscapes, government policy continues to favour overhead lines as the standard approach for new electricity network developments.
🚗 Roads
Transport for London and a Tarmac Kier Joint Venture have completed a £24M project to improve safety at Lambeth Bridge. The scheme replaced the roundabouts at both ends of the bridge with signal-controlled junctions, added protected cycle lanes and installed new pedestrian crossings. The upgrades are designed to make the area safer and more accessible, particularly for cyclists, following a history of collisions at the junctions.
Norfolk County Council has appointed Costain to complete the detailed design and construction of the ‘West Winch Housing Access Road’ near King’s Lynn. The 2.4km road will link the A47 with the A10 and support the development of up to 4,000 new homes in the area. The scheme, worth around £122M, will also include new roundabouts, a cycle path and improvements to part of the A47. Detailed design is due to begin this year, with construction expected to start in 2027.
🏠Property and development
Skills shortages in the UK engineering and manufacturing sectors are costing an estimated £5.2 billion a year, according to ‘Enginuity’. The report says addressing the gap through more training and apprenticeships could boost productivity, support growth and help develop future skills.
Ardmore Group has won permission to appeal a £15M liability order shortly before moving to place its construction arm into administration. The action comes amid financial pressure from multiple claims, including a £14.9M dispute with Crest Nicholson over a project in Portsmouth, as well as several other ongoing cases from former clients.
💧Water
Thames Water has moved a step closer to potential public ownership as concerns continue over its financial position. The UK’s largest water and wastewater provider is carrying debts of around £19-£20 billion and could run out of cash within months if a rescue deal is not agreed. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds has raised concerns about a proposed £10 billion rescue package from the company’s lenders, saying it does not do enough to protect consumers and the environment.
Industry experts say reforming the UK water sector would require major changes to regulation, allowing a longer term and joined up approach to managing water infrastructure. The debate comes as Thames Water continues to face financial challenges, prompting renewed discussion about potential public ownership. While concerns remain over issues such as sewage spills, flooding and infrastructure maintenance, regulator Ofwat has said Thames Water remains financially stable, with £4.4 billion in available funding, and maintains that the wider water sector continues to attract significant long-term investment.
Southern Water has begun enhancement works on the River Anton in Andover, Hampshire, as part of a wider programme to restore the chalk stream. Running through to the end of July, the project will improve the river channel by adding gravel and creating natural features such as berms, pools and riffles to support fish habitats and encourage natural river processes. Southern Water says the scheme is a significant investment in the local environment and will help improve the long-term health and resilience of the River Anton for future generations.