Network Rail’s National Delivery Service (NDS) has signed a contract with five suppliers to provide haulage for the company’s fleet of engineering trains in control period 5 (2014-2019).

DB Schenker, Freightliner Heavy Haul, GBRf, Direct Rail Services and Colas Rail will provide locomotives and drivers under contracts worth more than £600m over five years.

Each supplier will provide haulage in different proportions depending on where on the network the trains are required and the respective companies’ strengths in those areas.

Martin Elwood, Network Rail’s director of NDS, said: “This is a vital contract for us and will be crucial to delivering the high volumes of work we have committed to in CP5. With a guaranteed volume, we and our suppliers will be able to plan ahead and we are confident this agreement will put us in a strong position to support the biggest investment in our railway in the modern era.”

The headline figure of the contract is based on a guaranteed volume for each supplier and includes a degree of flexibility to allow Network Rail and its five suppliers adapt to meet demand and changing circumstances.

Trains covered by the contract include possession trains, high output renewals, rail head treatment trains, snow and ice treatment trains, shunting and support services.