Raft of firms advise on largest UK rail procurement to date

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters are among a host of firms to have played a role on the Government's Thameslink Rolling Stock Procurement Project (TRSP).

The scheme is the largest rail procurement to date, with £1.8bn funding, of which £1.6bn will be met through senior debt.

The TRSP involves the purchase of 1,140 train carriages and two maintenance depots as part of a £6bn upgrade to boost the capacity and reliability of the Thameslink route.

Freshfields has advised the Department for Transport on the project since 2008, with a team led by partners Alex Carver, Simon Hall and Sally Roe. Hall said: "In terms of Government procurement, it is likely there won't be any more projects of this scale. 

"It was one of the most complex transactions I have ever worked on and particularly challenging from a commercial aspect. All of the firms involved should be praised. It is an essential upgrade in terms of improving the quality of travel and frequency of service."

Linklaters advised the rolling stock provider – Cross London Trains (CLT) – on the manufacture and maintenance for the network, fielded by projects partners Fiona Hobbs and Stuart Rowson.

CLT is a consortium led Siemens Project Ventures in partnership with infrastructure funds 3i and Innisfree. The consortium was selected as the preferred bidder to design, build, finance and maintain the carriages. Reed Smith represented Siemens.

Clifford Chance acted for the senior lenders with a team led by partners Andrew Rolfe and Gavin Teague.

Meanwhile, Burges Salmon took a role for First Capital Connect, the operator of the Thameslink route.

Freshfields is also advising on the procurement for Crossrail, the new cross-London railway service due to open in late 2018.