Buckingham Group are one of the leading multi-disciplinary companies within the UK Rail sector. They specialise in major civils construction works, civils engineering and Rail Projects. Wigan to Bolton is a £78m scheme to bring further electrification from the West Coast Main Line to Manchester. The works are being delivered in partnership with Network Rail and SPL, undertaking 7 major structure interventions, 3 Station enhancements, 2 track lowers, installation of Overhead Line, and re-signalling works. Once completed it will enable greater capacity and connectivity between Liverpool, Wigan, Preston & Bolton/ Manchester.

To assist in the delivery of all works, Buckingham Group and Network Rail required personnel to take ownership of the integrated programme. To examine its historic feasibility and offer and implement solutions that increase confidence in delivery of the scheme within realistic timescales and to budget. Ongoing programme management is also required to ensure key milestones are met throughout the Projects duration.

Axial have been contracted to provide Planning and Controls expertise to support the delivery and integration from Approval in Principle design through to Project Close. Axial scope also covers control of the overarching integrated programme and support in programme creation and management through the QSRA process to Delivery.

The project contains significant levels of challenge and integration that need to be effectively managed in order to deliver works in an efficient and cost effective way. By providing skilled resource with the capability to manage design integration across multiple disciplines, and with the experience to co-ordinate work within previously agreed disruptive access regimes, Axial were able to not only deliver the initial brief, but to also aide in the progression of the programme by creating a maturing and detailed document that is used to maintain and monitor project progress.

Axial Director Tony Bullivant had this to say. “We are thrilled to be involved in this project from an early stage. Although the footprint of the scheme is smaller than some of the other works happening in the North at the moment, there are still a significant number of major works to be undertaken, each bringing new challenges that need to be overcome in order to deliver successfully. We are also delighted to be working with a new partner In Buckingham Group, the requirement they had fitted perfectly with our Planning and Controls skillset and adds another project to our live portfolio.”