TRU W2B/C - Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO)

The £1.2 billion Transpennine Route Upgrade W2B/C Project requires upgrades to 4 stations together with railway infrastructure changes to improve journey times, capacity on the rail network, ultimately improving passenger experience.

The £1.2 billion Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) W2B/C Project requires upgrades to 4 stations together with railway infrastructure changes to improve journey times, capacity on the rail network, ultimately improving passenger experience and underpinning net zero targets. Due to the scale and complexity of the project there was c1000 different consents required ranging from planning, listed building, temporary and permanent land acquisition, sub-soil rights and so on; to maximise the changes of success the project grouped these together under one Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO).

This process demanded design and delivery integration, extensive public consultation and the careful balancing of conflicting stakeholder viewpoints. Obtaining the TWAO was a critical project milestone as it enabled works to commence onsite.

Service Delivery

As experts in managing complex consents and project integration, we were tasked with leading the TWAO process from the outset on behalf of Network Rail. As part of our integration services, our team led a rigorous option selection process focused on delivering a minimum viable product, ensuring essential requirements were met within strict budgets. We coordinated engineering, Sponsors, design teams, contractors and 3rd parties such as train operators/ maintainers and councils to capture all necessary provisions to meet operational and safety standards.

Crucially, we led the TWAO process which included extensive stakeholder engagement, including 3 formal public consultations and negotiations with local authorities and disability access groups. All objections were identified and systematically addressed to secure endorsements vital for the project’s success.

Value Delivered

Our Project Management team skilfully led the TWAO process, resulting in a successful and compliant submission to the planning authority. We used innovative techniques such as creating a Virtual Consultation room, replicated the physical layout of the consultation room online (see picture). This approach extended the reach and effectiveness of the public consultation process.

Through a collaborative approach with stakeholders, client and designers, statutory and community concerns were addressed, to ensure broad support and minimise objections. The outcome set a benchmark for effective early-stage project delivery in highly regulated, multi-stakeholder environments, meeting client and stakeholder requirements while adhering to strict budget and planning constraints enabling the project to progress on schedule.

Our collaborative and innovative approach to planning and delivering major complex consents such as TWAO’s significant value by effectively managing integration, consultations, compliance, and legal requirements on behalf of the Client. As a trusted partner to our clients, we worked with their consents specialists and guided them through these complex statutory processes whilst keeping key stakeholders onboard thus minimising the risk to the project.