TfL tenders East London Line project

Transport for London (TfL), the Government agency charged with managing the capital's transport infrastructure, has launched a tender process to appoint a firm to advise on the £896m East London Line extension.

The process, which was launched earlier this month, is the second major tender exercise to be run by TfL since it appointed Eversheds to handle high-volume work last August. As first revealed by The Lawyer (8 November 2004), since then Ashurst has won the mandate to advise TfL on the construction of the controversial Thames Gateway Bridge.

A spokesperson for TfL confirmed the launch of the new tender, but declined to comment on which firms have been invited to pitch.

According to sources, firms likely to be involved include Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) and Herbert Smith, which both lost out on the Thames Gateway Bridge work.

It is understood that Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has not been invited to pitch, even though the firm has substantial experience in the transport sector from its involvement in London Underground's PPP.

The tender is being headed by TfL's general counsel Fiona Smith.

The East London Line extension, which is due to be completed by June 2010, is the largest transport infrastructure project in the London Mayor's five-year plan. Under the initiative, the line will be extended north to Dalston and south to Crystal Palace and West Croydon.

Ashurst, DWS, Freshfields and Herbert Smith declined to comment.