Balfour Beatty : and partners complete once-in-a-generation scheme at iconic King’s Cross Station

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07 June 2021

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has completed a multi-million pound, once-in-a-generation improvement scheme designed to future proof King's Cross station and radically improve services for passengers.

Delivered alongside its Central Rail Systems Alliance (CRSA) partners, which include Network Rail, Atkins and TSO, the King's Cross Remodelling Project, which is part of the wider £1.2billion East Coast Upgrade, will allow more trains to enter and exit the station, reducing congestion and bringing more reliable journeys for passengers.

The scheme, dubbed 'King's Uncrossed', which began in 2018, involved the wholesale replacement of the more than 40-year-old tracks, as well as a redesign of the track layout on the 1.5-mile approach into the station. It also saw the re-opening of a disused tunnel after 44 years to add two additional lines into the station from the north.

In total, the complex and challenging programme has seen the replacement of:

• More than 6km of new track
• More than 30 new sets of points
• 1km slab track
• More than 2km track drainage

These upgrades will not only deliver improved reliability and punctuality for passengers, but will ensure the route has the capacity to deal with future passenger volumes.

Alan Atkins, King's Cross Remodelling Programme and Central Rail Systems Alliance Director said: 'I am delighted that our Alliance has successfully and safely completed this incredible programme of works to remodel King's Cross Station, on schedule and to budget.

'We're incredibly proud and privileged to have led this iconic project which will significantly benefit many passengers for years to come through increased capacity, reduced journey times and more reliable journeys.'

ENDS

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Notes to editors:

• Balfour Beatty (www.balfourbeatty.com) is a leading international infrastructure group. With 26,000 employees, we provide innovative and efficient infrastructure that underpins our daily lives, supports communities and enables economic growth. We finance, develop, build and maintain complex infrastructure such as transportation, power and utility systems, social and commercial buildings.
• Our main geographies are the UK, US and Hong Kong. Over the last 100 years we have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world including the London Olympics' Aquatic Centre, Hong Kong's first Zero Carbon building, the National Museum of the Marine Corps in the US and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
• Balfour Beatty aims to provide employees with a safe, rewarding and inspiring place to work and develop their careers. In December 2019, Balfour Beatty secured the top spot in the Heavy Construction category in the 2019 awards for Britain's Most Admired Companies; the longest running annual survey of corporate reputation in the UK.
• 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, signalling, civils, specialist rail plant, railway systems and technologies.
• Our services are underpinned by dedicated teams, delivering innovative engineering, advanced digital technology and industry‑leading safety.
• With a focus on technology and innovation, Balfour Beatty offers a full range of systems and software to manage all rail assets. Looking beyond maintenance activities, we look to enhance infrastructure asset performance and ensure smooth operations.
• Significant projects in Balfour Beatty's current portfolio include: London Underground track renewals contract valued at up to £220 million over four years for Transport for London, on-track machinery for Network Rail's seven-year contract worth £115 million for the supply, operation and maintenance of 13 'Tampers', and a £65 million seasonal treatment contract to operate and maintain 21 multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) across As part of Control Period 6, Balfour Beatty was selected as part of Network Rail's Central Rail Systems Alliance framework, worth £1.5 billion and holds an 80% share in the total works including development, design, delivery of track renewals and crossings across both the North West & Central and Eastern Regions.
• Additionally, Balfour Beatty recently completed the electrification of 77 kilometres of Great Western Railway line between Bristol and Cardiff on behalf of Network Rail.
• Balfour Beatty was made part of the Transport for Wales STRIDE framework through which we were awarded an Early Contractor Involvement contract for track and traction power works in June 2019.
• Balfour Beatty aims to provide employees with a safe, rewarding and inspiring place to work and develop their careers. In 2019 and 2020 Balfour Beatty secured the top spot in the Heavy Construction category in Britain's Most Admired Companies; the longest running annual survey of corporate reputation in the UK.