Amey has been appointed to Iarnród Éireann’s Signalling, Electrification and Telecoms (SET) Implementation Partner framework, securing its first major contract with the national rail operator and expanding its presence in the Irish transport market.
The high-value, eight-year single-party framework will see Amey provide specialist engineering resources and multidisciplinary services across the Republic of Ireland, supporting signalling, electrification and telecoms projects as they are brought forward by Irish Rail.
Its scope covers the full project lifecycle, from early-stage design and project management through installation to testing and commissioning, positioning Amey as a long-term engineering and delivery partner as Irish Rail develops its network.
Long-term access to specialist SET capability
The framework gives Irish Rail a route to draw on specialist resources across three disciplines that are fundamental to the operation and future development of the railway.
Rather than being tied to a single scheme, Amey will undertake work on a project-by-project basis over the eight-year framework period.
That model gives Irish Rail access to engineering capability across design and delivery as requirements emerge, while providing continuity between the different stages of individual programmes.
Tony Ennis, Chief Engineer Signalling, Electrification & Telecoms at Irish Rail, said: “This framework gives Irish Rail access to specialist signalling, electrification and telecoms expertise that will support the continued development of our rail network over the years ahead.
“Amey brings strong technical capability and a collaborative approach, and we look forward to working together to deliver projects safely, efficiently and with long-term value for passengers and communities across Ireland.”
Full lifecycle role
The breadth of the appointment is significant, with Amey’s responsibilities potentially extending from the formative stages of projects through to bringing new or upgraded railway systems into operational use.
Integrating signalling, electrification and telecommunications requirements across that lifecycle can be particularly important as railway projects become increasingly systems-led.
For Amey, the framework provides an opportunity to deploy its wider systems and engineering capability rather than focusing on an individual engineering discipline or construction package.
Peter Anderson, Managing Director, Transport Infrastructure at Amey, said: “This is a defining moment for Amey in Ireland. Being appointed as an implementation partner to Irish Rail is more than a contract win – it is the start of a long-term relationship where we can bring our full system capability to support the future of the national rail network.
“From early design through to commissioning, our role is about helping Irish Rail deliver a safer, more reliable and more resilient railway. We are excited about what we can achieve together and proud that Irish Rail has placed its trust in us at this scale.”
Amey expands Irish rail presence
The appointment also represents an important step in Amey’s wider growth strategy in Ireland.
The company has already established a presence in the country’s light rail sector through the KeolisAmey joint venture, which recently took responsibility for the operation and maintenance of Dublin’s Luas network.
The Irish Rail framework now extends that presence into the national heavy rail network and establishes a direct strategic delivery relationship with Iarnród Éireann.
For Amey, an eight-year framework also provides greater visibility from which to develop its engineering capability and resources in Ireland as individual projects move through the pipeline.
The award strengthens the company’s rail portfolio at a time when demand for specialist signalling, electrification, telecoms and systems integration skills remains a major consideration for railway investment programmes.
With the framework spanning everything from early design to testing and commissioning, the significance of the appointment will ultimately be determined by the projects called off over its eight-year term. But it gives Irish Rail long-term access to multidisciplinary SET capability while providing Amey with a substantial platform from which to grow its role in Ireland’s railway infrastructure market.
