Bids open for £18M London Gateway Port rail expansion

DP World has released a tender notice for the construction of Phase 2 of the London Gateway Second Rail Terminal. The £18M project, situated at the port facility in Stanford-le-Hope, focuses on the installation of significant new railway infrastructure to the west of the existing eastern operational rail terminal.

This latest procurement follows the commencement of operations at the site's second rail terminal in 2025. The upcoming works are designed to further integrate the port into the national rail network, providing increased capacity for containerized freight and reducing the industry’s reliance on road haulage.

The scope of the contract includes the construction of five new sidings, numbered 7 through 11. These will complement sidings 12 and 13, which were established during the initial Phase 1 and 1A works. Contractors will be responsible for the installation of 21 new switches and crossings, which are required to connect the expanded terminal to the existing rail corridor.

Beyond the track itself, the project involves substantial signaling and telecommunications work. This includes the provision of new signaling assets, the relocation of existing equipment, and the construction of a new shunters' cabin. This cabin will house an updated control panel capable of managing both rail terminals on the site

The procurement process is being conducted as a competitive and flexible procedure. Interested firms must submit their expressions of interest by 13 April 2026. DP World expects to evaluate bidders based on a weighting of 70% for commercial considerations and 30% for technical capability.

The construction phase is scheduled to begin in July 2026. The contract is expected to run for a duration of 12 months, with a projected completion date in mid-2027. During this period, the successful contractor will need to manage works within a live port environment, coordinating closely with Network Rail standards and existing port security protocols.

This expansion is a component of the broader £1bn investment at London Gateway, which has already seen the port reach a throughput of 3 million TEU in 2025. By shifting more volume to rail, the port aims to improve its operational flexibility while supporting broader decarbonization goals across the logistics chain.

The project requires expertise in permanent way works, electrical installations, and complex signaling interlocking. Once the second phase is operational, it will provide more route paths for trains entering and exiting the facility, enhancing the overall efficiency of the Thames Estuary hub.