Crossrail announced last week (5 January 2010) its intention to award the remaining set of contracts for detailed design work. These five awards conclude the competitions for the design of Crossrail under the framework agreement phase announced in December 2008.

The contracts in this set are as follows:

• Package C102 - Material & workmanship specifications - Mott MacDonald
• Package C131 - Paddington Integrated Programme - Mott MacDonald
• Package C146 - Custom House station - Atkins
• Package C160 - Rolling stock and depots - Mott MacDonald
• Package C170 - Communications & control systems - Parsons Brinckerhoff

Rob Holden, Crossrail Chief Executive said: "These five contracts, including the design of the remaining new station at Custom House and of the rolling stock, complete the procurement of design work for Crossrail and herald the start of an exciting year ahead for the project. We are all looking forward to the start of full construction across the route and we now have a world class team of design consultants and architects in place who will help deliver this magnificent railway."

Preparatory work on the tunnel entrance at Royal Oak in West London will start this month. By the end of 2010 construction at all new central section stations, tunnel portals and shafts will also have begun.