AtkinsRéalis has been awarded a £98m contract by Network Rail to upgrade signalling and telecommunications infrastructure in Wessex, South England.

Over three years, AtkinsRéalis will act as principal contractor and designer to deliver full design, project management and construction services to upgrade 43km of railway near Portsmouth.

The project will replace obsolete systems - improving reliability and performance - with a target to significantly reduce signalling-related delays.

“Reliable rail infrastructure is fundamental to supporting connectivity and economic growth across regions,” said Ian L Edwards, president and chief executive officer, AtkinsRéalis. “This project will significantly improve network performance, benefiting passengers and freight operators while supporting the modernization of England's rail infrastructure. The scale of this award reflects Network Rail's confidence in our capability to deliver.”

The Wessex Route connects London with Portsmouth and Southampton, two of England's major ports and industrial centres which serve as gateways for international trade and are receiving significant government investment. The route is part of South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex’s £2bn investment program to modernize the railway across the South West into London between 2024 and 2029.

The project involves the relock and recontrol of the Havant Area Signalling Centre on the Wessex Route to the Basingstoke Regional Operating Centre; spanning 11 stations, 10 interlockings, four level crossings and associated signalling power and telecommunications systems. Work has commenced with engineering, procurement and construction now underway.

The contract was awarded through Network Rail’s £4bn Train Control Systems Framework , which AtkinsRéalis secured a place on in September 2024.