The total value of work carried out under the arrangement will be worth anywhere between £2bn and £7bn, depending on regulator spending settlements.

It will cover control period six (CP6) from April 2019 to 2024, with the option to extend for three years into CP7, subject to funding approval.

Under the previous set up covering four regions, VolkerFitzpatrick bagged the Anglia region and Costain took Kent, with BAM Nuttall securing Sussex and Geoffrey Osborne winning Wessex regional works.

Network Rail is now running the SMD Framework as three lots, one for each of Anglia, Southeast and Wessex routes and again will select a single firm for each area.

Works include enhancements and renewals, building and  civils, electrification, power, signalling, telecommunications and track works.

To set out the scope and requirements of these frameworks, Network Rail intends to host a market briefing event at the at the Oval Cricket Ground in London on Monday 29 January.

To register for the event email your name, organisation and contact number to IPSframework by 22 January.