UK rail infrastructure provider Network Rail has signed a series of new framework agreements with IT suppliers.

The list includes Accenture, BAE Systems Detica, CSC, Cognizant and TCS, and comes as Network Rail seeks to streamline procurement services through a reduction in the overall numbers of suppliers.

The new agreements known as ‘zero-value IT Solutions and System Integrator framework agreements’ mark the IT suppliers as the rail companies preferred suppliers.

Network Rail’s chief information officer Susan Cooklin, said: “By creating this framework we will be able to scale more flexibly our resources to meet demand, while retaining our vital assurance role. In this way we can improve our efficiency while continuing to allow 24,000 trains a day across the rail network.”

The new framework agreements comes after a centralising program designed to sabe £250 million a year, that was undertaken in January.

Network Rail to invest £333 million in IT