Network Rail has awarded Jacobs Engineering Group a contract to support its proposed new rail link from the West of England to London Heathrow airport. The proposed Western Rail Access to Heathrow includes a new direct, double track link between the Great Western main line at Langley in Berkshire (about 27 km west of Paddington Station in London) into Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport. Jacobs is producing a design for Network Rail’s Development Consent Order, which is expected to be submitted in early 2016. Jacobs’ scope of work includes topographical surveys and geotechnical investigations, tunnelling design for the new 5 km route, and railway systems designs for track and overhead line equipment.

Network Rail’s Signalling Design Group is producing the signalling design for system integration by Jacobs as lead designer. Jacobs is also providing environmental surveys and impact assessment (EIA) to inform optimization of the tunnel route and location and design of surface structures. An environmental mitigation programme is being developed as part of the EIA to minimize impact on local residents and the environment during both construction and operation phases. Jacobs delivered pre-feasibility and feasibility studies in the early planning stage of the project which identified significant potential cost savings. Visit http://invest.jacobs.com/investors/Press-Release-Details/2015/Jacobs-Awarded-Contract-for-Network-Rail-Link-to-London-Heathrow/default.aspx. 15/15.