Tarmac and Max Bögl launch joint venture

Companies combine forces to deliver new slab track system for UK high-speed rail

TARMAC have formed a joint venture with Max Bögl, the largest privately-owned infrastructure engineering company in Germany, to deliver a new slab track system specifically for high-speed rail applications in the UK.

The joint venture draws upon Tarmac’s expertise and manufacturing capability for the UK rail industry and combines this with Max Bögl’s extensive experience of working on high-speed projects.

Commenting on the launch of the joint venture, Martin Riley (right of photo), senior vice-president of Tarmac, said: ‘High-speed rail is a key enabler to assist in the future economic development of the UK. This joint venture will provide a fully developed and technically viable solution, manufactured locally in the UK, for high-speed rail projects in the UK.

‘It uniquely combines the precision and quality of Max Bögl’s slab track system – and its proven international success – with Tarmac’s expertise and heritage in manufacturing construction materials for complex rail projects. Our companies share common values defined by a ‘one team’ approach to working with clients, consultants and supply-chain partners.’

Max Bögl director Johann Holzinger (left of photo) said: ‘We are delighted to be joining forces with Tarmac. The UK is a new market for us and we wanted to align ourselves to a company that can fully support our vision and values. We see the UK high-speed rail market as a key growth area and felt compelled to place ourselves into contention for future projects.’

Tarmac have a long track record in delivering construction solutions to support the build, maintenance and repair of rail industry assets, including the supply of aggregates for traditional track ballast and 60 years manufacturing and supplying pre-stressed concrete sleepers to the UK rail network.

Max Bögl’s unique FFB slab track system is being used around the world on 4,500km of high-speed railways, including in Germany, Italy and China.

The unique, highly durable track bed is said to provide comfort, reliability, reduced wear and tear on the rolling stock, and allows speeds of up to 360km/h to be achieved. Moreover, as well as improving safety for network operators, it offers a lower operating cost system compared with the traditional rail ballast system.