Purpose

Following survey work and in liaison with the Light Rail Team, City Road has been identified as the location for Task Order 3. Based on the framework rates, Colas Rail Limited has indicated a works value of £2.5M to £3M, based on the ‘normal’ working hours between 00:30 and 05:30, with an estimated delivery time of 25 to 30 weeks.
It was decided that Task Order 3 would be split into two call offs, phase 1 and phase 2;
• Phase 1 works will start on March 28th and will work in daytime hours during the 2 week tram blockade, until April 12th where they will then transition to engineering hours working for the following 10 weeks. This was commissioned separately to utilise the rail replacement works tram service suspension and enable daytime working, maximise closure of that part of the tram network and minimise disruption to residents. Following reinstatement of the tram service, the works will take place in engineering hours between 0030 and 0530 for the remainder of the 12 week period. The phase 1 call-off, with a value of £966,636.71, was approved on 6th March 2026.
• Phase 2 works will follow on from Phase 1 and continue along City Road during engineering hours. Further opportunities to maximise daytime working are being explored. The remaining permitted spend under the SYMCA Embedded Rail Repairs Contract is £1,993,572.09, and to maximise repairs it is proposed to commission TO3 works up to that value.
This RoODF marks the approval of this appointment for phase 2.

 

Decision

Approve the appointment of Colas Rail for Embedded Rail Repairs TO3 (phase 2), up to a value of £1,993,572.09.

Alternative options considered

Option 1

Not undertake the works – maintenance of the track slab is essential to the safe operation of the tram network and public highway. SYMCA has an obligation to maintain the track slab in the public highway for the safety of all road users. Despite measures already undertaken by both SYMCA and SYFTL to date there is political pressure to expedite and increase the number of repairs on the track slab. This option has been discounted.

Option 2

Undertake localised remedial repair works - SYFTL has already undertakes remediation work at numerous locations around the network, but these are small scale reactive repairs on the worst defects opposed to planned wider area improvements. These are not necessarily longer term repairs and smaller defects are not attended to. This option has been discounted as there is a requirement for a repair programme over targeted areas to provide much improved track slab with greater durability minimising the need to reactive maintenance.

Option 3

Progress with the polymer and concrete repair works on City Road – this option is recommended as it maximises the number of durable repairs with the allocated timescales and budgets and benefits from increased efficiencies working alongside other asset renewal works when the tram system is not operational.