Rail

Putting you on track.

Technology is expanding what is possible for rail transportation. 

But in many places, challenges remain. Integration of new assets with existing systems, scarcity of experienced engineering capability, and the need to satisfy a wide range of authorities mean it’s a difficult balancing act to meet performance requirements and maintain stakeholder confidence.

What can we do for you?

With more than 100 years’ experience in rail, we bring all the disciplines required for a modern railway, and more.  

We can offer you: 

Smarter design solutions

We understand your existing assets and technologies, their challenges, and possibilities for modernization. Our industry-leading engineers and management teams can help you to get more from your projects. From decarbonization and climate resilience strategies to industrialized design and construction — we’re geared up to deliver quality, safety, and efficiency, saving you time and money. 

Excellence in integration 

We have extensive experience in systems integration, and wherever possible we seek to work with you and the supply chain to set projects up for integration from the start. 

Collaboration and problem solving

We can work with you to set up the right structure, management systems, and commercial arrangements that focus delivery teams on shared objectives. We’re not afraid to break down silos and challenge norms. Our aim is always to find the right solution for you.

Lasting value

Our goal is to add value throughout the life of an asset or entire railway, from early design to commissioning and operation. Our technical skills are complemented by expertise in social, environmental and economic studies, modeling and analysis. We have a portfolio of solutions that can help our clients and critical stakeholders to explore, calculate, and understand the full value that rail projects can add  —  and maximize it at every stage.

Services we provide

Transforming rail infrastructure with cutting-edge engineering

We work across the entire lifecycle of rail projects, and across all types of railways, including high speed, heavy haul, light rail and trams. We work with you to find solutions that result in reliable, safe and efficient rail services for customers.

Our experience

Our heritage in the rail sector dates back to the early 1900s, when we were involved with the construction of the City and South London Railway. Our recent highlights have included:

  • East Side Access, New York, USA
    We provided program management, tunneling design, and construction management services for this mega-project to expand commuter rail on the east side of Manhattan.
  • Elizabeth Line, London, UK
    We worked on this major new high frequency, high-capacity metro railway — which crosses London from west to east — from its early stages under various roles, advising on the route and its structures, producing solutions for its trains, and developing the rail systems that convert tunnels and stations into a functioning railway.
  • High Speed 2, UK
    We supported our client through initial planning and approval for this flagship project to increase rail capacity between London and the Midlands and have carried out preliminary and detailed design, surveying, land referencing, and specialist engineering roles across the project.
  • Hydrogen train, San Bernardino, USA
    Expansion of the public transit network in San Bernardino, California, includes the introduction of the first hydrogen fuel-cell battery hybrid passenger train in North America. Our experts evaluated zero emissions technologies and identified a hydrogen fuel-cell and battery hybrid vehicle as the right solution. We continued to support the transit authority by overseeing the manufacture of the vehicle and developed conceptual designs for the supporting infrastructure, as well as working with federal, state and local agencies to obtain compliance with regulations and requirements.
  • Sydney Metro, Australia
    We’re a trusted delivery partner in Australia’s biggest public transport project, which will expand Sydney’s rail network to 46 stations and 113km of track by 2030, and have been collaborating with the client in an integrated engineering and design solutions team.
  • Transport 2050, Vancouver, Canada
    We are working with TransLink to develop an enterprise digital strategy and roadmap to support Transport 2050, the Canadian rail company’s 30-year transportation strategy, and related business strategies.

Carbon Portal

Identify, calculate, and reduce embodied and operational carbon emissions. This infrastructure carbon calculator is aligned to PAS 2080, the international specification for managing carbon across the built environment (coauthored by Mott MacDonald). It allows anyone across your business and supply chain to identify and calculate carbon emissions, not just carbon experts.

An overhead view of a bike lane, train tracks and a stretch of highway with a single vehicle.

TRAIN

TRAIN is world-leading software producing advanced simulations of rail systems under all conditions. The programme has been developed by us over decades and has been used on a broad range of high-profile projects around the globe. TRAIN complies with BS EN 50641 standard. 

Overhead view of a train in a rail yard.