Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure - High Speed Rail Line Design-Build
Client: Dutch Government
Location: The Netherlands
Business Segment: Urban Solutions
Industry: Infrastructure
Executive Summary
Fluor served as the managing partner for Infraspeed, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) selected by the Dutch Government to deliver the first high-speed rail line (HSL) in the Netherlands. The SPV consisted of Fluor, Royal BAM, Siemens, HSBC and Innisfree.
The $1.43-billion design-build project and $830-million, 25-year maintenance and renewal contract were the single largest public-private partnership (PPP) contracts awarded by the Dutch state to a private party to date.
Our financial strength and program management capabilities were major factors in securing private financing. We also led the interface management effort among state agencies, local municipalities, other contractors and commercial power suppliers to ensure that the project schedule was met.
Client's Challenge
As a key part of the Trans-European Rail Network, the Dutch Government wanted to build a high-speed rail connecting Amsterdam to the Belgium border. The project required an innovative financing approach to fund the project as well as coordination with state agencies, local municipalities and commercial power suppliers during construction of the 62-mile rail line.
The infrastructure project consisted of rail construction through four tunnels, across an aqueduct and along a 1.9-mile bridge, with connections at five major interchanges. Infrastructure construction included the track system, power supply system, noise barriers, signalizing system, communication systems and ancillary equipment such as lighting and control systems. Simultaneous to the construction of the HSL, civil works projects were constructed by other contractors, requiring multi-contractor coordination to maintain the work schedule.
Fluor's Solution
We led Infraspeed's efforts to arrange private financing for the rail concession for the duration of construction. Fluor and the Infraspeed partners also provided US$90 million of equity.
As the program manager on this project, we were responsible for the day-to-day management and coordination of the design-build work for the superstructure along with HSL alignment. Fluor also spearheaded the interface management effort, one of the most demanding and challenging efforts of the project. We developed joint agreements with state agencies, local municipalities and commercial power suppliers.
Project and interface management activities included establishing site-specific agreements with each group and organization involved in permitting the design and construction. Interface efforts included establishing communication with local municipal and state agencies as well as the banks involved with the project, extending to the banks' technical and legal advisors. Approvals were obtained from all these groups without any delay in the design and construction schedule.
A quality management program was established to oversee 15 design-build organizations and establish procedures and standards, conduct quality inspections and indicate acceptance of construction work. The HSL-Zuid project attained ISO 9001:2000 Certification.
Conclusion
The Fluor-led consortium safely delivered to the Dutch Government its first high-speed rail system connecting Amsterdam with the Belgium border on time and to the highest standard.
Fluor's financial strength and program management capabilities were major factors in securing private financing from a consortium of banks. We also led the interface management effort among state agencies, local municipalities, other contractors and commercial power suppliers to ensure that the schedule was met.
New technologies applied on the HSL project included the Rheda Ballastless Track System and ETCS Level 2 Signaling System.
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