News

700 Carillion jobs safeguarded as Amey Rail snap up contracts

Up to 700 workers employed to work on Carillion’s Network Rail contracts have been given a welcome boost with their contracts being acquired by Amey Rail.

Hundreds of jobs on projects in the east midlands, London and north west England will be safeguarded in a move that Network Rail says will provide reassurance to many in the rail industry and continuity for projects around the country.

Matthew Steele, commercial director of Network Rail, said: “This is a positive step for the industry, ensuring the delivery of a number of major rail projects across the country whilst safeguarding an expected 700 jobs and the wider supply chain. We look forward to working with Amey to enable a smooth transition and ensure the ongoing safe working on our sites. 

Despite the good news of safeguarding hundreds of jobs, the rail organisation says it continues to work closely with the Official Receiver’s special manager PwC to seek long term transition arrangements for the remaining contracts and staff.

“We do recognise that this has been a very unsettling period for the employees of Carillion and would like to thank them for the continued commitment to the delivery of these projects,” Steele added. “We remain focused on the transfer of remaining projects and employees to new arrangements over the coming weeks and months.”

The boost today comes after the rail operator’s announcement at the end of January when it eased the plight of around 300 of Carillion’s smaller rail suppliers by paying them for work carried out over Christmas and up until the company’s liquidation. Around two-thirds of smaller rail suppliers were paid the arrears they were owed to ensure the continued delivery of important projects.

Remaining contracts which have not been acquired will continue to be delivered under a Network Rail arrangement with PwC to enable an orderly transition.

If you would like to contact Ryan Tute about this, or any other story, please email rtute@infrastructure-intelligence.com.