ARQ – an electrifying new partnership
ARQ, which includes Amco-Giffen, REL (Rail Electrification Limited – the latest addition to Renew Holdings Plc) and QTS, will provide a truly integrated self-delivery model for the UK rail network. It will help to meet the ambitious electrification and decarbonisation targets set by government and Network Rail.
Decarbonisation is a huge challenge for us all over the next 30 years, as we seek to reduce carbon emissions and fossil fuel consumption. The UK government aims to remove all diesel-only trains by 2041, with a legally binding commitment to net zero by 2050. It has been recognised by the industry that, together, we must do more to be part of the solution to climate change.
In fact, to decarbonise the UK rail network completely, 13,000 single track kilometres (approximately 450km per year) will need to be electrified by 2050 to achieve net zero. However, it has been identified that from 2019-2020 only 251km was electrified.
ARQ therefore aims to play a key role in accelerating this change, leading the way in helping Network Rail to respond to the UK decarbonisation agenda within our country’s rail infrastructure.
Individually, each of the three businesses coming together to create ARQ have been enabling electrification programmes across the UK for several years. Now, combining their respective strengths within our unique family of multi-disciplinary engineering businesses will help us to collectively support essential UK infrastructure while gaining a key competitive edge.
The new partnership is led by Vinny O’Holloran, who says: “We understand that electrification is a significant contributor towards meeting Network Rail’s decarbonisation commitments, and that things have to change to drive efficiency. We want to be part of this change; to help drive it forward.”
All in all, this new partnership promises to be an exciting development for Amco-Giffen, for Renew Holdings Plc and for the UK rail industry as a whole. By combining strengths and expertise in this way, we not only remove the risk and complexity of retaining separate companies to carry out the work, but also make better use of our resources, create a more collaborative working environment, and – crucially – provide greater affordability for our client.
ARQ is committed to providing a sustainable rail engineering service that is fit for the future, with lasting benefits for us all.
“ARQ has the ambition to be an integral part of the solution and the future of decarbonisation of the UK rail network.”
