A SWINDON company has won a five-year-contract creating 150 new jobs.

Amey, based on Station Road, has won the contract to electrify the Great Western Main Line between Maidenhead and Cardiff – including the lines between Bristol, Reading, Newbury and Didcot.

Once the work is complete, commuters in the town will be able to get to destinations in the south west at a fraction of the current time.

Mel Ewell, chief executive of Amey, said: “Amey is extremely proud to secure this contract and help Network Rail deliver a step change in electrification.

“We work in the heart of local communities so it is satisfying to help deliver a scheme that will directly benefit people living in Swindon.”

Amey’s suppliers expect to recruit 150 rail staff in the local area at all levels to help deliver works – enabling trains to run using overhead electric cables.

Amey will use its High Output Plant System to install and test 25kV electrification equipment, and will also be responsible for all foundations and structural steelwork on the lines – a total route length of 378km.

The work will include using pioneering machinery which comes from from Germany and which can complete works much faster, to install and test electrification equipment; as well as install foundations and structural steelwork.

The company has said that it is committed to keeping railways open while the work is taking place in order to minimise disruption to the passengers.

Robbie Burns, Network Rail’s Regional Director for Western and Wales said: “The electrification programme is one of the most important projects for Network Rail over the next five years.

“It’s going to be critical to revitalising the railway across this part of the country, and we are giving all our effort to ensuring that it happens smoothly with the minimum of disruption to the existing services and our lineside neighbours.”