National Highways Seeks Industry Input Ahead of New Seven-Year Legacy Rail Structures Contract

Thousands of former railway bridges, tunnels and structures across Britain are set to come under a new long-term maintenance programme as National Highways prepares to replace its existing Historical Railways Estate contract.

The organisation has begun consulting the market on a proposed framework worth up to £168 million, which will oversee the inspection, maintenance and emergency response requirements of more than 3,100 historic rail assets from 2027 onwards.

The planned agreement is expected to run for seven years and will cover a diverse portfolio of infrastructure inherited from Britain's former railway network, including bridges, viaducts, retaining walls, tunnels and embankments.

Managing a Unique Infrastructure Portfolio

While National Highways is responsible for the estate, it relies on specialist contractors to carry out the work due to the scale and technical complexity of the assets involved.

The future framework will encompass everything from major structural interventions to day-to-day maintenance activities. Contractors could be called upon to undertake bridge refurbishments, waterproofing projects, masonry repairs, vegetation management and structural stabilisation works.

The contract will also include responsibility for urgent incidents where immediate action is required to protect public safety.

Emergency Response at the Core

A key feature of the framework will be rapid-response capability.

Suppliers will need to mobilise quickly following incidents such as bridge strikes, flooding, severe weather events, structural deterioration or unauthorised access to assets. In some situations, teams will be expected to attend site within four hours to assess risks, secure the location and implement temporary or permanent repairs.

The requirement reflects the ageing nature of many assets within the estate, some of which date back more than a century.

Procurement Process Begins

National Highways is now inviting contractors and industry specialists to help shape the structure of the new framework before formal procurement begins.

Feedback is being sought on delivery models, lot structures and procurement arrangements to ensure the future contract attracts the right expertise and provides value for money over its lifespan.

The market engagement exercise will remain open until 10 July, with a formal tender notice expected to be published in October.

If the current timetable is maintained, the new framework will become operational in August 2027, ensuring continued management of one of the UK's largest collections of historic transport infrastructure.