Network Rail has announced its suppliers for the £2 billion railway electrification programme.

The successful candidates were Balfour Beatty, ABC Electrification, CarillionPowerlines and Ameylnabensa. They will work together to deliver a variety of schemes to assist with the completion of the project.

In total, six geographical framework contracts were awarded, each undertaking a pre-determined workload to be delivered. Network Rail claimed this methodology has been endorsed by several industry groups, including the Railway Industry Association.

Simon Kirby, managing director of Network Rail's infrastructure projects division, said: "It is absolutely vital that the supplier market gets a clear, consistent message about what the company needs from its supply partners, where and when."

The scheme will see more than two thousand miles of railway electrified over the next seven years, with its trains accounting for three-quarters of all traffic. Network Rail hopes the scheme will deliver a service that is faster, quieter and more reliable.