28 April 2026 – Arcadis (EURONEXT: ARCAD), a leading global company delivering sustainable design, engineering and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets, announces it has been appointed by Network Rail as Programme Partner to support programme management for the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) through to completion. Arcadis will deliver the role via a joint venture with AtkinsRéalis.
The five-year Programme Partner framework is valued at up to £100 million, with an option to extend up to eight years. Arcadis will provide programme and project management, programme controls and integration, data and performance analytics, schedule monitoring, risk management, strategic advisory and construction and commercial management—capabilities that help drive delivery certainty on complex, multi-site rail enhancements.
The appointment strengthens Arcadis’ position in UK rail and major infrastructure programmes, a priority market where clients are seeking enhanced programme controls, digital insight and robust governance to deliver outcomes safely, on time and on budget.
The £10.7 billion TRU programme is the UK’s largest rail upgrade project, modernising 122 km of railway to improve connectivity between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. Delivery is being executed through multiple alliances and project teams across the route, making integrated programme management, project controls and data-led performance oversight critical to coordinating interfaces, managing risk and maintaining delivery momentum. Once complete, the upgrade is expected to reduce journey times to as little as 63 minutes between Manchester and York and around 42 minutes between Manchester and Leeds, and deliver greener travel through electrification of the route.
Arcadis’ delivery approach is underpinned by a strong regional footprint and a commitment to developing local capability. The team will draw on Arcadis’ Manchester, York and Leeds offices and work with local SMEs across the supply chain to support skills development and long-term social value for communities across the North of England.
Heather Polinsky, CEO, Arcadis said: “I am proud of this appointment to support programme management for the Transpennine Route Upgrade. This milestone aligns perfectly with Arcadis’ core mission to improve quality of life by modernising rail connections across the North. The TRU will deliver faster, more reliable, and greener travel for millions, supporting regional growth and economic opportunity. By drawing on local talent and working closely with communities, we’re not just building better infrastructure - we’re helping to create lasting benefits for people and places across Manchester, Leeds, York and beyond.”
Arcadis builds on more than a decade of involvement in the Transpennine Route Upgrade, providing services including cost planning and estimating and expanding into programme controls, planning and commercial advisory. This continuity enables Arcadis to bring proven understanding of TRU’s delivery environment and stakeholder requirements as the programme progresses through to completion.
