31 March, 2025 – Arcadis, a global leader in sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions, has been appointed by Network Rail to support the design of the UK’s Northern Powerhouse Rail, the Integrated Rail Plan, Network North, and the Enhancements Portfolio within Network Rail Eastern region. This latest win reinforces Arcadis’ position as a key partner in shaping the future of rail infrastructure worldwide, building connectivity and capacity, and supporting wider economic growth.
Arcadis, working together in a 50:50 joint venture with AtkinsRéalis, has been appointed as one of four suppliers on the five-year, £300 million development and design partnership framework (DDPF), which includes potential extensions for a further three years.
The framework will deliver multi-disciplinary design and engineering services for these major UK rail programs across all disciplines, from outline scheme feasibility to detailed design for construction, and incorporating modelling and benchmarking tools to optimise decision-making and efficiency. Arcadis and AtkinsRéalis will leverage their combined expertise in transport planning, technical advisory, and data-driven design to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions that ultimately drive value and support long-term growth.
Alan Brookes, CEO of Arcadis, said: "This appointment is a significant strategic win for Arcadis, positioning us at the core of Network Rail’s future development pipeline. Drawing on our global experience in delivering major rail infrastructure upgrades across the US and Australia, and leveraging cross-border expertise from our Global Excellence Centers, we will integrate transport advisory, digital innovation, and sustainable design to drive smarter investment decisions. Our focus remains on delivering value-driven, efficient, and buildable solutions that maximize social, economic, and environmental benefits for communities, passengers and businesses worldwide.”
The framework will support the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail, which aims to dramatically improve east-west connectivity across northern England, connecting Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds through new and upgraded rail infrastructure.
Northern Powerhouse Rail forms a central element of the Integrated Rail Plan, which outlines the rail infrastructure investments planned in the Midlands and the North of England over the next 30 years. Network North sets out the aspiration for an extended Northern Powerhouse Rail, however the exact scope is being developed.
This appointment builds upon Arcadis’ extensive involvement in the Northern Powerhouse Rail program, having worked directly within the Network Rail team since 2019 to provide cost planning to optimise financial accuracy, and managing relationships with key stakeholders such as the Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for the North (TfN).
