Why again Balfour Beatty

[yardmaster]

The Network Rail has given out a £110 million contract for West Coast Main Line electrification upgrade earlier this feb. I still dont understand why NR has to opt for BBR( not to mention what happened in the 115mph crash in October 2000) when there are other options available.

 

[bluenoxid]

Balfour Beatty Rail has been expanding at a massive rate since Hatfield and is a legitimate company. When you consider that the construction industry murders around 50-70 people per year, I cannot see what how you can call its rivals legitimate.

http://www.bbrail.com/Home

 

[TheSlash]

The Network Rail has given out a £110 million contract for West Coast Main Line electrification upgrade earlier this feb. I still dont understand why NR has to opt for BBR( not to mention what happened in the 115mph crash in October 2000) when there are other options available.

Please expand on your statement in bold.

 

[rail-britain]

The process is about competitive tendering
If those are the companies that bid, then the contract has to be awarded to one of them or the project put on-hold

Could be worse, Transport Scotland put out a contract for competitive tendering and only one company put in a bid!
They then invited two other companies to bid, but they declined

 

[yardmaster]

Please expand on your statement in bold.

BBR had always been a preferred supplier and first choice for the maintenance work of NR.... come what may in 2000 the Hatfield rail crash has not deterred the rail network from choosing BBR again for the electrification of West Coast Main Line...... my intention is why keep giving the contract to a company with such a history.... i agree that the construction industry kills hundreds every year but why repeat the mistakes...... is NR stuck with BBR because of its size and influence in the geography ???

 

[Nick W]

Perhaps it is a few people in the company that were culpable for the Hatfield incident as oppose to the whole company?

I think it would be against European competition laws to refuse to accept a competitive bid solely on the grounds of a single rail incident.

 

[bluenoxid]

BBR had always been a preferred supplier and first choice for the maintenance work of NR.... come what may in 2000 the Hatfield rail crash has not deterred the rail network from choosing BBR again for the electrification of West Coast Main Line...... my intention is why keep giving the contract to a company with such a history.... i agree that the construction industry kills hundreds every year but why repeat the mistakes...... is NR stuck with BBR because of its size and influence in the geography ???

No. There are a number of suppliers that can match Balfour Beatty Rail. Carillion and Jarvis to name 2.

 

[rail-britain]

I would very much doubt all the bids are identical, two might be close, but having three (or more) would just be unusual

 

[TheSlash]

Perhaps it is a few people in the company that were culpable for the Hatfield incident as oppose to the whole company?

I think it would be against European competition laws to refuse to accept a competitive bid solely on the grounds of a single rail incident.

Nick, with respect, you'd be gobsmacked at some of the things that go on