Business Stream awarded water contract by Network Rail

Business Stream has been appointed as Network Rail’s water retailer, following a competitive tendering process. The contract is one of the largest to be awarded since the market opened.

The Edinburgh-based water company will manage the water and wastewater services across all of Network Rail’s sites, including major train stations, such as Birmingham New Street, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, London Euston, London Kings Cross and Manchester Piccadilly.

The agreement will see Network Rail consolidate all of its water and wastewater billing through Business Stream, benefitting from having a single contact for all its water needs. Network Rail will have access to the water expert’s dedicated account management service, which includes day-to-day support and 24/7 emergency assistance, if required.

Business Stream has been Network Rail’s water supplier in Scotland since the retail water market opened in 2008. In addition, Business Stream will now be providing on-going water management support, including leak detection, contingency planning, metering and water efficiency advice.

Network Rail owns, operates and develops Britain’s railway – the 20,000 miles of track, 40,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. Every day more than 4.5 million people depend on their network.

Jo Dow, Chief Executive at Business Stream, said: “After nearly a decade working closely with Network Rail in Scotland, we’re delighted to now be working with the organisation across England and Scotland. We are committed to developing strong partnerships with our customers and we’re very pleased that we now have the opportunity to expand our working relationship with Britain’s rail infrastructure provider”.

Scotland’s non-domestic market, which covers all premises across private and public sector organisations, opened to competition in April 2008. Since then, Business Stream’s customers have saved more than £160 million on their water bills.

Business Stream expanded its operation in April 2017 by acquiring the non-household customer base of Southern Water.  The new £2.5bn English water market enables 1.2 million businesses and public bodies in England to choose their water supplier for the first time.