The infrastructure group Balfour Beatty was awarded a $697 million contract for the electrification of the 52-mile Caltrain rail corridor between San Francisco and San Jose. The San Francisco area's Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board awarded the contract as part of the Caltrain Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project. This is the largest contract secured by Balfour Beatty in the United States.
“Our extensive experience in managing complex rail projects leaves us well qualified to deliver this significant scheme,” said Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group chief executive. “Caltrain builds on the back of the recent successful delivery of our part in the multi-billion dollar Eagle P3 Commuter Rail network in Denver, Colorado.”
“We are pleased our unique capability has been recognized with this award which contributes to our strategy to increase our design-build rail market share across the U.S.,” added Quinn.
Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc. will design and build a 25kv AC overhead catenary system as the power source for the new high speed trains. Included in the contract is the construction of two traction power substations, one switching substation and seven paralleling substations. The company will also replace signal systems and earth existing facilities as part of the process, with minimal disruption to the 92 daily Caltrain trains.
The project is due to start in the fall of this year with completion expected in spring 2020.