Channel Tunnel Rail Link

High Speed Signalling

Client

Location

Duration

Value

CTRL

UK

24 mths

£60m

Overview

The Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), now known as High Speed 1 (HS1), is a 68-mile high-speed railway between London and the Channel Tunnel in Kent. Costing £5.8bn and opened in November 2007, the line was constructed in two stages:

  • Stage 1: Channel Tunnel to Fawkham Junction, operating at 186mph

  • Stage 2: Fawkham Junction to St. Pancras Station, operating at 143mph

Among the major contracts was a £60m high-speed signalling package awarded to a Franco-British consortium. Our role was to provide project leadership and controls that would ensure on-time, on-budget delivery while restoring the client’s confidence in the contractor’s performance.

The Challenge

The signalling contract brought together three separate companies—based in Paris, Bristol/Newport, and Derby—each responsible for distinct parts of the scope. This geographic and organisational separation risked communication breakdowns, misaligned schedules, and unclear performance visibility. Bechtel, as programme and construction manager, required robust oversight and confidence that progress was aligned with the overall delivery programme.

Our Approach

Acting as Project Director for the consortium, we:

  • Established a core management team, collocating with Bechtel in London to ensure direct, daily collaboration.

  • Directed the consortium’s teams across their respective offices in France and the UK.

  • Implemented Earned Value Management (EVM) techniques, providing clear Schedule Performance Index (SPI) and Cost Performance Index (CPI) measures for each company and work package.

  • Enhanced communication and reporting protocols, ensuring transparent, data-driven updates to all stakeholders.

The Outcome

Our approach created a unified, performance-focused delivery culture across the consortium. The improved visibility into progress and costs reassured Bechtel that the project was firmly on track. The transparency and discipline introduced by EVM restored client confidence, aligned the three companies toward common goals, and contributed to the successful delivery of the high-speed signalling system in line with the CTRL programme.