SYSTRA celebrates five decades in Ireland and Cork office expansion 

SYSTRA celebrates five decades in Ireland and Cork office expansion 

SYSTRA, the French-headquartered engineering consultancy with two offices in Ireland, has marked 50 years of supporting connectivity and growth in the country and the expansion of its Cork office. 

To celebrate its new base at Penrose One, Penrose Dock, SYSTRA hosted a special event which was attended by distinguished guests Her Excellency the French Ambassador to Ireland Céline Place; Maxime Augé – Head of Economic Department at the Embassy of France in Ireland;  Christine Deniel-Spicer, Senior Trade Advisor at Business France Ireland, and Sarah Madjedi, VP Sales and Bids at SYSTRA.  

Colleagues from SYSTRA’s Cork and Dublin offices were also joined by key stakeholders from across Ireland’s business, transport and infrastructure communities to mark the opening of the larger premises, which reflect SYSTRA’s growth in Cork since opening its first office there in 2023. 

Her Excellency the French Ambassador to Ireland Céline Place, said: “Ireland is investing heavily in its transport, rail, energy and water infrastructure to support sustainable growth and the transition to a low‑carbon economy. 

“With their expertise of complex projects across the full project lifecycle — from strategic planning to design and delivery — French companies like SYSTRA are well positioned to support these national priorities. I warmly congratulate the SYSTRA teams in Cork and across Ireland for their commitment and achievements and wish them every success.” 

Sarah Madjedi, VP Sales & Bids at SYSTRA, said: “Over the decades, Ireland has offered us far more than business opportunities. It has provided talent, trust, and an environment where long-term partnerships can truly flourish. 

“As we move into this new office this expansion is not only about additional square metres. It is about vision; about investing in people; and about embedding an innovative and sustainable approach to support the next decades of growth.” 

Ian Byrne, Business Director for Ireland at SYSTRA, said: “We are proud to have been part of Ireland’s infrastructure story for over half a century, from our first work in 1975 on the Dublin Rapid Rail Transit Study, to more recent projects such as Dublin and Cork BusConnects, Cork Luas, City Edge, Liffey Valley Bus Interchange Scheme, Greater Dublin Area and Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies and so many more. 

“With the strength of our Ireland team and the backing of our global SYSTRA colleagues, we are ready to continue playing our part in helping Ireland deliver a sustainable future that supports growth.” 

SYSTRA has played a central role in Ireland’s development for more than 50 years, supporting major infrastructure programmes that enhance connectivity and enable economic growth. Its multidisciplinary teams continue to deliver innovative sustainable solutions across the full project lifecycle from early planning and modelling through design, delivery and operation.

SYSTRA’s Cork office is now located on the 5^th floor, Penrose One, Penrose Dock, Cork T23 YY09. 

Mental Health Awareness Week – Embracing wellness to prevent burnout 

Taking care of your wellbeing both in and out of the workplace is vital in promoting good mental health – something our colleagues at SYSTRA are deeply invested in.

As a core value of our business, working as connected teams is at the heart of how we operate. Through our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme, Everyone Onboard, and via our dedicated Wellness Champions, we embrace togetherness and understanding whilst continually supporting health and wellbeing across our teams.  

Fostering a supportive, wellbeing-focused work environment plays a big role in preventing burnout. By avoiding unnecessary stress through proactive, sustainable lifestyle changes, our colleagues are keen advocates for a healthy work-life balance and embracing mental wellbeing.  

Our wellness-focused podcasts showcase colleagues who are passionate about topics such as mental health, work-life balance and stress management. In each episode, they share insights around managing health and wellbeing with work. Catch up on recent episodes here: 

To mark this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, which takes place from 11th to 17th May, we asked some of our colleagues about what they do to look after their own wellbeing: 

Emma Pym, Associate, said: “I really enjoy a good book, time with my friends and family, cuddles with my cat Stella, exploring new places, good food, good coffee and a visit to my local brewery.” 

Michael Westwood, Team Leader, said staying active is important to him. 

“I like to run and I find that coaching my son’s rugby team helps to take my mind off work,” he said. 

“As a Level Crossings team, we were recently lucky enough to attend a wellbeing afternoon at a local yoga retreat where we experienced the extensive benefits of yoga and a healthy lunch.” 

Sarah White, Marketing & Communications Manager, said she loves cycling and initially bought a bike to get her to the station for her commute. 

“But during lockdown when we had an hour a day to go out and exercise, I went out on my bike and discovered all the local country parks and common land,” she added. 

“This is something I’ve continued exploring and I’ve even completed the London to Brighton bike ride twice.” 

Find out more about our values: https://www.systra.com/uk/who-we-are/ambition-values/ 

SYSTRA supports start of major road scheme to boost connectivity in Scotland 

Our transport planning specialists played an important role in supporting North Ayrshire Council’s bid to upgrade the B714. 

The £34.7 million project includes significant improvements on a key artery between the Three Towns and the Garnock Valley, connecting North Ayrshire with Glasgow. 

SYSTRA’s role involved developing the business case for the scheme following our support in developing the original funding bid. 

The full business case has been approved by the UK Government with £23.69 million funding provided towards the scheme through the Levelling Up Fund. 

A groundbreaking event on 12^th March  officially marked the start of construction along the first phase of work. 

Project Manager Ian Bruce, Associate Director at SYSTRA, said: “We were delighted to see the upgrade scheme receive final approval from the UK Government. 

“We have worked closely with North Ayrshire Council over several years to ensure a robust business case provided clarity on the positive outcomes the multimillion-pound project will deliver. 

“At SYSTRA, we’re committed to supporting sustainable infrastructure projects with an evidence-based approach that captures the long-term benefits to communities. 

“We were able to work collaboratively to highlight how the B714 upgrade will reduce congestion and provide enhanced connectivity across the locality. The business case identified how the improved route will open up opportunities to people living in the surrounding areas and we look forward to seeing the construction move forward in the coming months.” 

 Creating a neuroinclusive workplace at SYSTRA – Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Our employee resource groups (ERGs) play an important role in achieving this goal – giving colleagues the opportunity to network with like-minded people, support each other through challenges and drive positive change throughout the business. 

Our disability ERG is a shining example of the impact employee-driven groups can have in the workplace. This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we’re celebrating their neurodiversity-focused achievements from 2025.

Community building 

Over 2025 the ERG has blossomed into a thriving community where colleagues regularly collaborate and support each other with a range of day-to-day tasks. By providing a place for neurodiverse and other disabled colleagues to talk through any problems they may be facing, the ERG has become an integral part of helping colleagues thrive.

The group have found success using different tools and ways of working, including art wellness sessions over lunch times to decompress midday and regular body-doubling sessions to create an environment for increased focus and deep thinking. 

Raising awareness and sharing information 

The group celebrated many successes over 2025 in raising awareness around neurodivergent conditions both within SYSTRA and to the wider industry. They published three podcast episodes: two focusing on navigating the workplace with ADHD and seeking diagnosis, and one insight into life as a parent and carer of a neurodivergent child.

During Neurodiversity Celebration Week in 2025, the group displayed posters throughout our offices highlighting a range of neurodivergent conditions to share colleague’s experiences on how these conditions can show up in the workplace.  

In-person collaboration day 

During Disability Pride Month, our disability ERG met in-person for a day of education, collaboration and community building. Members of the group, alongside HR and health and safety colleagues, held workshops to refine their objectives and develop a plan on how to achieve these. As a result of the collaboration day, they defined their three objectives as: 

• Objective 1: Access – The development of a disability focused support for the employee journey, to ensure all persons with disabilities are supported and considered throughout their time at SYSTRA.   

• Objective 2: Knowledge – Increasing awareness and highlighting the impacts of living with disabilities.   

• Objective 3: Psychological safety - Enhancing the culture that exists within SYSTRA to allow colleagues to feel safe in bringing their authentic self to work. 

Lou Garrick, Disability ERG Co-Lead and Geologist, said: 

“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved as an Employee Resource Group. The commitment from everyone involved has been inspiring as we work towards creating an even more inclusive environment for those with disabilities, hidden or visible. 

“It’s important to remember that even the smallest changes can make a big difference to everyone.”  

Learn more about equality, inclusion and diversity at SYSTRA. 

International Women’s Day 2026 – Give to Gain

This year, the IWD message is Give to Gain – to work together to forge gender equality through abundant giving. 

Knowledge sharing, advocacy and training are just some of the ways we can all contribute to women’s advancement. The collective approach creates a more supportive and interconnected world. 

Our ‘Connected Teams’ value at SYSTRA aligns with the IWD position – that collaboration and generosity are key to advance gender equality. 

This value speaks to our aspiration here at SYSTRA UK & Ireland  – to create high performing, inclusive teams. 

It means we work hard to share ideas, experiences and lessons with each other, embracing our different perspectives and celebrating our unifying goals.

So what actions do our teams take to actively embrace and enhance equality and inclusion in their day-to-day work? 

Michelle Flint, Discipline Lead (Systems), oversees project performance and is clear in what she is able to give back to her teams: “I bring a female perspective and dynamic to what is usually a very male dominated workplace.” 

A key benefit of SYSTRA for Holly Wallace, Sales Support Team Lead, is the chance to give back through STEM engagement, volunteering and ED&I groups. 

Social and Market Research Director, Sally McNamara, says at SYSTRA, we have a broad understanding of diversity being about everyone being able to be who they are. 

And this is reflected, she says, in how she has been treated at work: “I felt welcomed and valued from the moment I joined, and feel very comfortable being able to work in the way that suits me, making my own contribution as part of a supportive team.” 

And for our early careers, it’s even more important to give that support so all colleagues gain valuable insights. 

Technician Degree Apprentice, Sahina Sameerah, said: “I would definitely say I have become a lot more confident through my apprenticeship due to collaborating and working with people from various disciplines and studying at university. 

“I have been given opportunities where I have been able to step out of my comfort zone which has helped my confidence massively.” 

Kristy Fok, Assistant Engineer for track, said the guidance given during the graduate programme has helped her grow personally. 

“I’ve became more confident in myself and more willing to express my opinions since embarking on a graduate programme,” she said. 

“I believe this is a result of knowing that people I work with are willing to listen to what I have to say and take my thoughts into consideration.” 

Transport Planner Level 3 Apprentice, Gracie Belwood, says she feels empowered by the workplace culture to offer her own perspectives. She added: “As I am someone in the very early stages of my career, I believe I bring different views and opinions that others may not have thought of.” 

Find out more about our values.

TRU East Alliance completes major upgrades that will transform train travel in the north of England

Following more than a year of planning, collaboration and preparation, the Entry into Service (EiS) U blockade has been successfully completed, after a successful 32 day blockade.

This programme represents one of the largest and most complex pieces of work delivered by the TRU East Alliance, comprised of VolkerRail, Network Rail, Murphy, Siemens Mobility, and SYSTRA.

The majority of the infrastructure re-modelling took place in and around Church Fenton, with the blockade delivering two key EiS milestones:

Stage 1: The culmination of two years of rail systems improvements. Within the first 100 hours, teams installed 17 kilometres of lineside containment and bases, creating a new route for low voltage power distribution, new signalling systems and new telecoms cables. These systems were commissioned into use between Leeds and Church Fenton, including new data and screen changes at York’s Regional Operations Centre, where the new signalling system will be controlled.

Stage 2: The remainder of the blockade focused on re-modelling the infrastructure including 3km of track, eleven switches and crossings, 70 new signals, major earthworks and platform modifications to enable future line speed increases.

Ahead of the blockade, the installation of Rose Lane Bridge and Barrowby Bridleway Bridge marked significant enabling milestones. These structures allowed eight level crossings/user works crossings in the surrounding area to be closed, delivering significant safety improvements and providing safer routes for pedestrians and vehicles to cross the railway.

Stuart Birch, VolkerRail managing director said: “On behalf of the entire TRUe Alliance leadership team, we would like to express our deepest thanks and admiration for the dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment of the TRU East Alliance.

“This was an extraordinary undertaking. Delivering a blockade of this duration and complexity is a remarkable feat. The scale, complexity, and intensity of the works demanded not only technical excellence but also professionalism, composure, and teamwork. Your efforts have made a lasting difference that will be felt long into the future.”

Jamie Rothwell, transportation managing director at Murphy, said: “This latest project milestone demonstrates the truly collaborative nature of the TRU East Alliance. At Murphy we are proud to have played our part in successfully completing this blockade and look forward to continuing to work together on upgrades in order to deliver faster, greener, more reliable train services between York, Leeds and Manchester.

Matt Kent, director of operations and manufacturing – rail infrastructure, Siemens Mobility UK&I, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be a partner in this project, providing signalling, power and telecommunications backed by 18,000 engineering hours. This vital upgrade enhances safety, bolsters resilience, and improves punctuality, creating a more reliable route for passengers and freight users. Achievements of this scale are only possible through the expertise, dedication and collaboration of our teams and partners, marking a crucial step in our commitment to transform rail travel and transport for the North.”

James Richardson, TRU managing director, said: “It’s great to have completed these critical railway upgrades, between Leeds and York. Facing all weathers, our teams worked around the clock during the Christmas period and through January, delivering a host of improvements for passengers, safely and on time.

“Our work highlights the impact we are making in transforming the railway in the North of England, helping to enable economic growth, while building future capability for major projects.”

This successful delivery reflects the collective effort of everyone involved, from on-site teams and support functions to those who played a critical role in planning, assurance and coordination.

SYSTRA Limited achieves carbon management and reporting certification

As part of the enhancements made across the business to achieve the status, a new Carbon Management Process was created, which is now mandatory for all applicable projects regardless of size or sector.  

This reflects best practice in governance and ambition for reducing whole life cycle carbon emissions, with core elements including: 

• Setting realistic and effective carbon reduction targets for every project. 

• Establishing clear baselines to assess performance and identify improvement opportunities. 

• Utilising robust metrics for accurate carbon quantification and transparent reporting. 

• Applying standardised methodologies to define project boundaries and cut-off rules for emissions calculation. 

• Systematic reporting at all infrastructure delivery stages, providing full visibility of progress and outcomes. 

• Commitment to continual improvement and innovation in carbon management and reduction. 

This process acts as the backbone for embedding a low-carbon culture across all levels of the organisation. It supports colleagues in identifying low-carbon solutions, setting clear and measurable targets, conducting baseline assessments, and systematically comparing design options for carbon impact. Additionally, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement have been enhanced, and targeted, role-specific training is now offered. 

The benefits are already being seen, such as in a culvert project where the team used learning from a previous project and the resources and methodologies established through PAS2080 to identify and maximise significant carbon reduction opportunities from the outset. 

David White, Director of Health, Safety and Security & Sustainability for SYSTRA Limited, said: “This holistic approach ensures that carbon savings are realised not only in our business operations but throughout every stage of project delivery. 

“The PAS2080 verification underpins our ability to deliver sustainable, low-carbon infrastructure for our clients and enhances the international recognition of our proactive approach and leadership in embedding carbon management across all that we do.” 

Riona Ainge, Sustainability Lead, added: “The aims of PAS2080 are now fully embedded in our practices and outputs, demonstrating how we live our sustainability values every day. 

“Above all, this has unified our approach to carbon management, strengthening our governance, enhancing project outcomes, and reinforcing our reputation as a proactive, responsible, and forward-thinking business.” 

Find out more about sustainability at SYSTRA.

HS2 Water Orton viaduct spans installed over existing railway

These spans are a relatively small, but critical, component of the Delta Junction – an expansive triangular intersection being built to the east of Birmingham for the new high-speed railway. 

The junction is formed of a complex series of interconnected viaducts, and other structures, taking the high-speed line over motorways, local roads, existing railways, rivers and floodplains, carrying HS2 services to and from Birmingham, as well as connecting to the mainline heading north and south. To maintain speeds of 360km/h on the mainline and around 200km/h on the approaches to Birmingham, the junction is spread out over a far larger area than a motorway junction – over 4km from south to north and over 2km from east to west. 

Designed by the Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture, supported by WW+P Architects, the Water Orton viaducts will connect the mainline tracks at the north end of the junction to the spur leading to the new Birmingham Curzon Street Station, which also serves the HS2 rolling stock depot at Washwood Heath. Once complete, these two viaducts will stretch for around 1.4km each, crossing two railways, a river, local roads and the M42. 

The design of the viaducts was conditioned by contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI’s choice of construction method, which employs a mobile cable stay mast to temporarily support the partially completed span in a cantilever configuration (supported only at one end) until the installation of successive precast box girder segments reaches next pier. At this point the permanent post-tensioning cables are installed through the completed span allowing for the temporary cables stays to be moved forward to support the assembly of the next span. 

Balfour Beatty VINCI crews were able to safely complete the two parallel spans crossing above the existing railway line over the course of a six-day suspension of passenger and freight rail traffic, which had been meticulously planned years in advance and programmed to take place during the quieter Christmas period. Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture’s deep implication in design and site support has been crucial in supporting the pace of construction activities, setting the contractor up for success in the completion of this strategic crossing within the allotted window. 

Hani Benkhellat, Delta Junction Sublot Manager at SYSTRA, said: “The installation of these spans is yet another crucial milestone on the project, which is taking form along the entire route. The Water Orton viaducts are not only an impressive feat of engineering but as elevated structures they also serve to maintain the continuity of the landscape. The construction of the viaducts is accompanied by related works to improve the landscape and community access through the creation of green spaces and a walking and cycling route. Flood management is also a crucial part of the design, along with the realignment of the River Cole, all supporting the projects’ sustainability mission.” 

Find out more about our work on HS2.

Innovative M6 bridge slide for HS2 completed without motorway closure 

A UK-first was completed over the weekend, when an enormous 4,600-tonne viaduct was slid into place over the M6 without the motorway being closed. 

As part of the HS2 project, the 17-hour-long operation marked the culmination of a three-stage process to install the 315-metre East deck of the M6 South viaduct, which will carry high-speed trains heading to Birmingham and further north. 

While the previous slide had required a weekend closure of the main carriageway, the team – led by HS2’s main work contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) – worked closely with National Highways to develop the ‘fully restrained’ process which allowed them to safely slide the final section above the moving traffic. It is thought to be the first time this technique has been used on a UK motorway. 

The structural design was delivered by the Mott MacDonald SYSTRA, plus WW+P Architects, Design Joint Venture (DJV). 

The successful operation means the project to construct the M6 South viaduct has reached the halfway point. Over the next year, the same process will be repeated, with a parallel West deck slid into position alongside the first one to carry trains heading south. 

Jack Hillier, Senior Project Manager at SYSTRA, said: “Once more our dedicated team from across the Mott MacDonald SYSTRA DJV have played their part in a significant milestone for the HS2 project. 

“The dedicated design work that has been delivered enables this innovative construction method to be successfully implemented, and it is a proud moment for everyone involved.  

“Every element of work on the project is brought to life through a collaborative approach with safety and innovation at heart, and we look forward to next year’s progress.” 

Caroline Warrington, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Delivery, said: “Along the HS2 route we are pioneering new approaches to engineering and construction in order to deliver more efficiently and with less impact on our neighbours. 

“We believe this fully restrained slide was a first for the country, but most importantly it means we’ve been able to cut in half the number of times we’ve had to close the motorway. I’d like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make the operation a success.” 

Russell Luckhurst, the BBV engineer leading the delivery of the works, said: “We’re all feeling a huge sense of pride after sliding a 4,600-tonne viaduct into its final position this weekend. The third and final slide of the East deck viaduct was delivered over a live motorway for the first time in the UK, making this achievement even more special. 

“Using this ‘fully restrained’ technique meant we were able to keep disruption to an absolute minimum. Our focus will now turn towards the neighbouring West deck viaduct, which will be launched in multiple phases throughout 2026, as well as the East deck finishing works.” 

Click here for more about SYSTRA’s work on HS2 and other high speed rail projects.

2025: A year in review

From new appointments and acquisitions to major project milestones, project wins, and social value work within our local communities, there’s been no shortage of ambition, innovation, collaboration and cause for celebration across our valued teams.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at just some of the most significant moments from the past year. 

Our work

Working in partnership with clients to solve challenges and help deliver outstanding infrastructure solutions across the transport, energy, environment and built-environment sectors, our connected teams have worked collaboratively to secure a number of major project wins and ensure milestones were seamlessly achieved.

This year has definitely been one for the books.

Projects

We kicked off 2025 with a big win for our multidisciplinary colleagues in Ireland, securing a position on the BusConnects Dublin Core Bus Corridors Infrastructure Works Program, which aims to improve accessibility, connectivity and sustainability through upgrades to walking, cycling and bus infrastructure in the area. 

Our success continued in Wales as we saw the release of the Welsh Government’s Public Engagement Strategy report. Our Social and Market Research team evaluated the 2023 strategy, which provided a framework for working with a diverse range of people across the country to act on climate and natural emergencies. Our specialists used a Theory of Change logic model to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy in contributing to the net zero target. 

In March we celebrated another huge project win as we announced our 50/50 joint venture (JV) position with Arup on the £300 million five-year Network Rail Eastern Region Development and Design Partnership Framework , which will improve connectivity across the board and encourage economic growth. The framework covers a range of multidisciplinary design and development services, including the Northern Powerhouse Rail portfolio, the Integrated Rail Plan and other enhancement projects across the Eastern region. 

Having been commissioned alongside Frontier Economics by the Department for Transport (DfT) to carry out independent monitoring and evaluation on the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions programme, we were thrilled to see the publication of its first Interim Report. The programme was designed back in 2022 to reduce maritime emissions and create skilled jobs across the country by accelerating clean maritime technology research and development. 

Our colleagues attended an inspiring inauguration ceremony in Fingal, County Dublin, to mark the completion of Fingal County Council’s Safe Routes to School works. Appointed in 2022 to develop and implement a programme of schemes at nine schools throughout the county, the work has had a transformational impact, enhancing routes and infrastructure, decreasing road safety concerns, improving air quality, and propelling an exciting move towards active travel for the community. 

During the summer, we were excited to announce our strategic partnership with Amey on the National Highways’ Specialist Professional and Technical Services 3 Framework, which has an estimated maximum value of up to £495 million. Our specialists will provide a wide range of services, from early feasibility studies through to delivery and post-implementation review. 

And the project wins kept coming – shortly after we shared news of our collaboration with the Rail Safety and Standards Board on the deployment of the Future Railway Mobile Communication System strategic programme, in replacement of the old GSM-R system. The work will improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of the British rail network. 

Towards the end of the year we celebrated a huge win in Ireland as the business was appointed to support the delivery of the next iteration of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan (CAP26). Our specialists are set to provide modelling services to the Department of Transport and National Transport Authority in aid of ambitious decarbonisation goals.

High Speed 2 (HS2)

As part of two joint ventures, we are a key player on HS2, showcasing impressive digital design solutions, and providing a range of services for the project. As work pushes on to provide zero-carbon journeys that will reinforce rail capacity in the UK and create significant economic benefits for regions and populations, we’re hitting some big milestones.

Earlier in the year the construction of the project’s heaviest bridge structure, designed by our specialists as part of the SYSTRA Mott MacDonald Design Joint Venture , was completed. The bridge was then moved into place ahead of schedule. The method used avoided over two years of speed restrictions, lane closures and traffic disruption that a conventional bridge design would likely need.

Exciting progress was made at Old Oak Common station (which is being constructed by the Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA JV) as the first section of platform was installed.

During a 29-hour closure, the first section of a 320-metre-long viaduct for the East Deck was slid into place over the M6 South using an innovative non-stick material, allowing the road closure to end 11 hours ahead of schedule. Keep a look out for the assembly and positioning of the West Deck viaduct using the same technique next year!

A huge 749-metre river realignment of the River Cole was completed for in Warwickshire as part of the Delta Junction works. The realignment was the most significant scheme of its kind on the project and marked a significant milestone. The work improves the existing environment, enhances habitats in aid of biodiversity, and enhances community access.

During the summer months, a complex 1,631 tonne, 112-metre-long steel deck structure for a Mott MacDonald SYSTRA DJV designed bridge was positioned over a section of Birmingham city’s ring road known as Lawley Middleway. Following two years of construction next to Digbeth Canal, the move used a specialist skidding system and took only four nights to complete due to a fantastic collaborative effort.

The autumn welcomed another big move as a 230-metre-long viaduct was positioned over the M6 near Birmingham Airport, once again ahead of schedule. For the first time in the West Midlands, a ‘fully restrained’ sliding technique was used on the project to reduce the time and impact on road users. 

Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU)

In collaboration with Network Rail, VolkerRail, Siemens, and Murphy as part of the TRU East Alliance, our work as Principal Designer on the largest conventional rail project in the UK forged ahead with great success throughout 2025.

Our work this year brought the north of England ever closer to decreased journey times, increased reliability, improved capacity and safety, and ultimately more opportunities from enhanced connectivity. 

We got the new year off to a fantastic start, announcing the delivery of a crucial SYSTRA-designed bridge replacement over the festive period in Osmondthorpe Lane, Leeds. The work provided a spectacular show as the huge 200-tonne bridge was moved into position in one piece by an impressive self-propelled modular transport vehicle. Our specialists also took on the project’s safety and assurance using the innovative 4D planning tool SYSTRA Vision.

During the spring another notable milestone was reached as we celebrated the completion of tangential wiring at Colton Junction. The unique and complex section of overhead line equipment (OLE) over a diamond track crossing mitigates the operational risks caused by the existing wiring geometry. Our teams worked with specialists from the University of Huddersfield on the iterative design and dynamic modelling.

The following months provided lots of electrification progress on TRU, resulting in 25% completion of the whole project’s electrification by August. An Automatic Power Change Over system was implemented, and on Sunday 3^rd August the first electric passenger train was therefore able to run between York and Church Fenton. To celebrate, the project team was thrilled to welcome the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP, who travelled on a TransPennine Express bi-mode train between Leeds and York.

By the end of the year the Crawshaw Woods bridge removal opened the doors for safe installation of the new OLE, with the historic components being repaired and renovated off-site. We can’t wait to see the restored structure reinstated soon!

Business Growth

In order to effectively support our project work and strong ambitions, our business continues to grow, adapt and develop at an impressive rate.

To kick the year off, SYSTRA Scott Lister UK was transferred to SYSTRA Limited from SYSTRA ANZ, bringing with it its exceptional human factors expertise. The move saw a selection of experienced rail and aviation specialists, already active on key projects such as HS2 and TRU , embedded into the UK and Ireland business.

Our Glasgow office was relocated in response to strong growth, both locally and across the UK, and as part of our long-term commitment to attracting top talent in Scotland. 

Having been present in Ireland since the late 1970s, this year we celebrated our 20^th birthday in Dublin, marking two decades in the city and many more years of transforming transport infrastructure and connectivity for the region and beyond.

SYSTRA Group also announced the acquisition of BG&E – a multi-disciplinary engineering company founded in Australia. The move marks the launch of a new international offering dedicated to complex buildings.

COllaboration

Our work is exponentially enhanced by opportunities to collaborate throughout the business and the wider industry. Diversity of ideas and solutions is fundamental to the success of our projects.

This year, we prioritised collaboration in the pursuit of technical excellence and innovation.

Back in February, we hosted the Rail Industry Association (RIA) North Leadership Group at our Manchester office, to talk all things rail in the north of England. We were joined by Huw Merriman (Chair of the Liverpool-Manchester Railway Partnership Board), Liz Goldsby (Head of NPR and High Speed Development at Transport for Greater Manchester), and Transport for Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region representatives. The session was a fantastic opportunity to come together across the industry to highlight the importance of rail connectivity to the region, and discuss how infrastructure and services must develop to open up access to opportunities for communities, enable economic growth and ensure sustainability in transport.

With similar objectives, our Birmingham office also hosted the RIA Midlands & Eastern Leadership Group, led by chair and SYSTRA Operations Director Sekoura Benissad, and vice chair James Brown.

With Project Director Nizar Awad at the helm, we hosted the Network Rail North West & Central and Eastern SHELT Summit at HS2’s Old Oak Common site. Nizar shared his project insights and led a tour of the site, providing those in attendance with the opportunity to witness first-hand the impressive progress made on the project, and take away best practice and lessons learned for sharing across the industry. 

Midway through the year, we were proud to select the TomTom location technology suite to strengthen our urban transport planning, design and modelling capabilities, and enable evidence-based planning and investment decisions across the UK and Ireland. The collaboration ensures that the transport solutions we provide enhance and optimise urban mobility, quality of life, sustainability and economic growth to the highest possible degree.

We also entered into a premium partnership with ERTICO, enabling the business to push further ahead with innovative techniques in data handling, AI, machine-learning and bespoke modelling, and make the most of opportunities to apply research and innovation in real-world scenarios. Partnering with ERTICO accelerates adoption of new digital products across European markets, and ultimately supports the mission of safer, more efficient, sustainable mobility.

Similarly, our new partnership with the British Aviation Group will encourage collaboration, development and effective delivery within the growing market. 

Our PEOPLE

Our people are the backbone of our business.

Our community of leading thinkers, keen collaborators and supportive peers all exemplify our values – Excellence, Connected Teams and Bold Leadership – and drive our mission forward.

Whatever they’re working on, our colleagues are all about making maximum impact.

This year we saw some important strategic appointments across the business.

With 27 years of professional experience in sustainable transport planning, strategy development and transport modelling in his back pocket, Ian Byrne was appointed Ireland Consultancy Business Director, now Business Director for Ireland, to build on recent success across the Ireland market.

Later in the year, Conor Cleary joined our Ireland team as Sales Director for Ireland, bringing with him his extensive business development experience and expertise to further help the business realise its growth ambitions in the country.

Having joined the business in 2022 in a rail-specific capacity, in May this year, Chris Judge took on the role of Director of Consultancy to support the business in delivering growth across all markets and ensure the fulfilment of wider business objectives.

Gareth Davies was appointed as Market Director for Water and Environment to help the business enhance its presence in the market and support the delivery of AMP8 projects, nature-based solutions and environmental projects.

Having already played a pivotal role in the business’ expansion into markets such as energy and water, Jonathan Scott became our Managing Director of Engineering, eager to strengthen SYSTRA’s position as a leader in delivering sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions.

Appointments aside, we also celebrated a trio of new fellows. The Institution of Civil Engineers recognised two of our most talented leaders, Saenthan Sathananthan and Remant Doorgakant, and Sudhasil Das Gupta was awarded fellowship by the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation.

Our Head of Innovation Llewelyn Morgan was one of 24 professionals granted a position on the new Advisory Board for the DfT’s Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) programme. Llewelyn’s position on the Board enables him to guide innovations, identify commercial potential, and witness them contribute to a more efficient, sustainable and inclusive transport system for all.

Our geotechnics specialist Charlotte Woodhall-Jones was elected to the British Geotechnical Association (BGA) Executive Committee for the next three years as one of nine members.

SOCIAL VALUE

Our business isn’t just about economic success and growth. We also care deeply about our communities, sustainability, and equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I), both in our project work and throughout the business itself when it comes to our own activities and the wellbeing of our colleagues.

Our goal is to continuing growing and pushing our social value contribution – we know there’s always more work that can be done. 

This year we chose our corporate charities as Dementia UK and the Irish Cancer Society. The charities were voted on by our colleagues, and each was given a one-off donation on behalf of the company. Our colleagues took part in a number of fantastic fundraising activities throughout the year, including the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge and the Royal Parks Half Marathon!

In July we attended Leeds Pride for the third year as sponsors and walkers in the parade. Our participation, organised by our brilliant Everyone Onboard Colleague Engagement Group, reflects our acknowledgement of the challenges still faced by the LGBTQ+ community, and our support for LGBTQ+ colleagues, loved ones and more widely across the industry. It was wonderful to watch our colleagues come together, from offices up and down the country, to celebrate in such colour!

This year we also teamed up with the UK-wide charity Career Ready to support young people looking to enter the engineering and consultancy industry. The programme empowers young people from under-represented backgrounds, connecting them directly with workplaces in order to gain invaluable experience, insights and a support network.

In alignment with our ED&I values and goals, we were very proud to renew our partnership with Women in Transport. The organisation provides networking and professional development opportunities across all modes and disciplines, enabling and encouraging more women to thrive within the transport sector.

Towards the end of the year we were thrilled to share our new Sustainability Mission, which sets out how the business will push even harder to shape and support a better future for all throughout our projects, people and business activities. The mission – structured through the three strategic pillars of people, planet and purpose – is supplementary to our Sustainability Strategy and Policy, which provides guidance on how colleagues can get involved and play their part as individuals.

AWARDS

At SYSTRA we truly understand and appreciate that so much of our success is owed to the dedication and innovation of teams working hard behind-the-scenes.

And, while we love to celebrate our colleagues internally, it’s always gratifying to see our work recognised by the wider industry as well.

Plus we do love a trophy!

Here are just some of our award-wins throughout 2025:

• Institution of Civil Engineers Yorkshire & Humber Awards - ‘Sir John Fowler Award’ for championing ED&I in active travel across Sheffield.
• Institution of Civil Engineers Yorkshire & Humber Awards - ‘Smeaton Award’ for the TRU Alliance’s work on the Osmondthorpe Lane bridge replacement.
• SPOTLIGHT Rail Awards 2025 – ‘Best Use of Technology – Infrastructure’ award for using SYSTRA Vision to proactively manage safety risks on the TRU East project.
• Transform Magazine Awards – the Mima team were recognised for the visual work on London Gatwick Airport station, taking home ‘Best Wayfinding or Signage’ and ‘Best Visual Identity from the Transport and Logistics Sector’. As the lead designer, we were proud to work closely with Mima on the wayfinding and signage for the project.
• SHELT Awards 2025 – ‘Biodiversity Award’ for the habitat management and monitoring plan on the East Coast Main Line power supply upgrade.
• Intelligent Transport Systems UK Annual Awards – ‘Better Integration through Technology Award’ for working collaboratively with Yonder Data Solutions and TravelAi to understand travel habits through digital technology and data fusion on the DfT’s FUSION project.
• John Connell Awards – ‘Quiet Mark Build Environment Award’ for impressive noise reduction and excellent sound management on the Gatwick Airport Station modernisation project.

And that’s a wrap! We’d like to wish our colleagues, partners and clients a very happy new year. We can’t wait to work on more game-changing, award-winning projects in 2026!

Please get in touch with our specialists if you’d like to work with us in any capacity.

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