Full steam ahead for Ashurst on Crossrail procurement deal
Ashurst has won a mandate to advise on the procurement of rolling stock and construction of a depot for the £15.9bn Crossrail project.
Mark Elsey
The firm, which has advised Crossrail for several years on general commercial work, competed against around five firms on a competitive tender.
Crossrail already has a panel for property matters - Ashurst sits on this alongside Cripps Harries Hall, Eversheds and Wragge & Co.
Ashurst global head of infrastructure Mark Elsey said: “Crossrail is the largest infrastructure project in procurement in Europe. This will be a substantial order for the rolling stock industry, with the added complexity of the procurement being implemented at the same time as the related infrastructure and systems for Crossrail are being designed and built.”
This latest instruction involves the procurement of 600 vehicles and a depot and stabling facilities at Old Oak Common in North West London.
The first trains are expected to start running five years from now, with the scheme mooted to be fully operational by 2017.
Elsey added: “We have for some time targeted the railway industry as a key area for growth. We’ve built a strong team with an in-depth understanding of all aspects of the industry and it’s pleasing to see this investment paying off.”
Ashurst brought on board former Denton Wilde Sapte rail partner Naomi Horton as a counsel last month. She is working on this latest instruction alongside Elsey and rail specialist and partner at Ashurst Lee McDonald.
