Ensuring the optimal delivery of integrated infrastructure, that achieves combined authorities’ goals, requires a delivery partner who intrinsically understands not only the bespoke challenges of delivering individual modes of transport – but also the complexities involved in how the modes interface with one another and come together to create seamless journeys for passengers.
Creating safe, sustainable and accessible transport networks that meet the diverse needs of modern communities increasingly requires combined authorities to integrate multiple modes of transport.
Octavius has a proud heritage as a leading provider of surface transport spanning over 60-years. We maintain an exclusive focus on the transportation sector and continue to deliver enhancements and renewals projects across every Network Rail region in England and Wales. Similarly, our portfolio with National Highways sees us delivering critical enhancements and renewals to the strategic road network across the North West, North East, South East and South West of England. In both modes, this work with national customers is complimented by an extensive portfolio of regional frameworks across England used by combined authorities and their constituent councils.
As a Network Rail approved contractor Octavius is able to undertake road and active travel projects that interface with the rail network; working for North Somerset Council currently, for example, to replace Winterstoke Road Bridge which spans the London to Exeter mainline. Similarly, the company is delivering rail projects which encompass significant road, active travel and mass transit network interfaces.
Multi-modal asset creation
Okehampton Interchange is the most recent addition to the Octavius portfolio of multi-modal transport hubs. Located on the Dartmoor Line, this new purpose-built interchange is a fundamental component of the region’s growth strategy, and sits in close proximity to the A30 so provides alternative access to the town centre – thus reducing traffic and relieving pressure on existing parking facilities. As well as creating a step-free access single platform the Okehampton Interchange project integrates the rail line with pedestrian and cyclist networks – which will be improved as part of the scheme. In addition, new infrastructure will integrate several local bus routes into the interchange. The scope also encompasses sheltered parking space for bikes and 200 new car parking spaces, including electric vehicle charging points. Which all adds up to improved travel choices and contributes to regional low-carbon travel strategies.
The project typifies a new generation of multi-modal interchanges being created across the country as previously disused railway lines are re-opened as a means of transforming regional transport infrastructure.
There are many other contemporary instances of Octavius leading projects to create more integrated transport infrastructure. The company successfully delivered the A38 Major Road Network Improvement Scheme in close collaboration with our customer, North Somerset Council. The project comprised improved pedestrian, and cyclist connectivity along part of one of England’s most important trunk roads, and enhanced multi-modal connectivity to critical infrastructure such as Bristol Airport.
Integrating multiple modes of transport lies at the heart of the Victoria North East Gateway project in Manchester. The scheme is a package of road, cycle and walking route enhancements that improve access to Manchester city centre via the mass transit networks which serve it, by providing connections to pedestrian and cyclist provision in other parts of the city.
Octavius is Manchester City Council’s, Principal contractor for the project, under Manchester City Council Highways Construction Works Framework. The scheme is among the larger infrastructure elements of Manchester’s Bee Network, Mayor Andy Burnhmam’s programme to provide the city with a joined up, locally controlled transport network.
Enabling mass transit
Alongside the integration of mass transit networks, Octavius is also contributing direc
tly to the efficient operation of urban mass transit systems. On the Tyne and Weir Metro, Octavius is delivering a DC circuit breaker renewals programme.
On London’s Docklands Light Railway Octavius is undertaking a renewals and maintenance programme encompassing half of the mass transit system’s lift estate. The accessibility programme was awarded under TFL’s London Rail Infrastructure Improvement Framework.
Indeed, accessibility is another area in which Octavius is making a significant contribution to the transport network. The company has a portfolio of more than 35 accessibility projects nationwide, undertaken as part of Network Rail’s Access for All (AfA) programme.
Car parks are another piece of the integrated transport infrastructure jigsaw to which Octavius contributes. As with Okehampton, most of our new station projects encompass new car and cycle parking areas, typically including electric vehicle charging. In addition to delivering car parks as part of integrated transport projects Octavius has a specialist car park service offering which adopts an innovative modular deck system that has been adopted by universities, businesses and hospitals alike to provide cost-effective and sustainable expansion of parking capacity – an example being Ely Hospital. As well as creating new assets Octavius can also extend the life of existing assets through the refurbishment of concrete car parks.
Combined authority priorities
The multi-disciplinary depth and diversity of Octavius’ transport infrastructure experience means the company is ideally placed to manage the complex technical and stakeholder interfaces that characterise integrated transport projects. But it is not just what we deliver on the ground that makes Octavius the perfect delivery partner for local and combined authorities – the way in which we deliver also aligns strongly with the needs and culture of these customers. We call this The Octavius Way.
Octavius thrives in a collaborative environment. Okehampton Station, for instance, is on track to become the quickest new station constructed and commissioned under Network Rail’s Swift, Pragmatic and Efficient Enhancement Delivery (SPEED) and Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment (PACE) principles. A highly collaborative approach from early contractor involvement (ECI) through to delivery and supply chain management is at the heart of this achievement.
Somerset Council embedded ECI through a progressive approach to highways contracts. As one of the council’s highways partners Octavius is seeing that work on site progresses with greater efficiency, and that the contractor is more accountable for the outcome because, through ECI, the responsibility to iron out challenges in a project’s formative stages now rests to a much greater extent with Octavius.
The Southern Renewals Enterprise (SRE) is probably the most collaborative approach to rail infrastructure currently in operation. SRE is based upon the Project 13/Enterprise delivery model. Project 13 seeks to remove traditional segmented client, consultant, contractor relationships and reform those parties into a single collaborative enterprise to deliver the asset owner’s outcomes. Octavius is the SRE’s Electrification and Plant lead.
Creative carbon reduction
A commitment to decarbonisation is something else Octavius shares with many combined authorities. This is exemplified by Norfolk County Council’s Long Stratton bypass. Through a creative approach to carbon reduction, which addressed all aspects of the bypass’ creation, Octavius achieved 8,821 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent savings across the project’s lifetime.
This approach to carbon reduction is embedded into the way all of the company’s projects are delivered; as demonstrated by Octavius’ certification against PAS 2080, the British Standards Institute’s specification for carbon management in built infrastructure and the environment.
Octavius also leaves a rich community legacy through a commitment to creating social value. The company has the target of delivering social value equivalent to 30 per cent of turnover, which was exceeded in the last financial year with more than £110 million of social value created.
Here too Long Stratton provides insights. More than £25 million of local social value was added during the project, measured using the Thrive social value platform. This was achieved through Octavius’ policy of using local sub-contractors and suppliers wherever possible, as well as the delivery team’s active participation in community initiatives for the duration of the two-year construction work.
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Image credit: Tyne and Wear Metro image: © Copyright Andrew Tryon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence