Boosting fuel efficiency, cutting running costs and strengthening support for major projects Murphy has announced a £6.5m investment in 34 new Cat® machines, supplied by Finning UK & Ireland. This is part of a strategic move to boost fuel efficiency, cut running costs and strengthen support for major infrastructure projects. This significant investment includes 33 excavators, ranging from the 13-tonne Cat® 313 GC to the 35-tonne Cat 336, alongside a Cat D6 XE dozer, the first of its kind in the Murphy fleet. Phillip Collier, Asset & Billing Manager at Murphy, said: “Over the past two years, we have worked closely with Finning on several large-scale infrastructure projects and benefited from their support with fleet planning and technical expertise. “This is our first investment in Cat machines since 2017. It was driven by wanting to improve operational efficiency and sustainability across the fleet. The D6 XE is expected to reduce fuel costs by around £110 per day, as it uses on average 23% less fuel than other machines of its type, with a 35% better fuel efficiency on average. As a result, it will support our ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency and sustainability across the fleet.” Ryan Trafford, Territory Account Manager at Finning, said: “We recommended the Cat 313 GC excavator for Murphy as it uses smart mode to match engine and hydraulic power to digging conditions, and auxiliary hydraulic options give versatility to use a wide range of Cat attachments. “As Murphy wanted to prioritise reducing the environmental impact of its fleet, we also recommended the Cat 336 excavator. This machine is designed to comply with the latest global emissions regulations and similarly to the Cat 313 GC, is highly fuel efficient thanks to its C13 engine and electric-hydraulic system. “This significant investment will continue to enhance operations, cut costs and maximise sustainability for Murphy for years to come, and is an indication of what happens when machine quality and long-term support come together.” HIGHLIGHTS Investment includes 33 excavators, ranging from the 13-tonne Cat® 313 GC to the 35-tonne Cat 336 Also included is a Cat D6 XE dozer, the first of its kind in the Murphy fleet
Underlining the commitment to supporting the UK’s energy transition Murphy is delighted to have been awarded a place on National Grid’s High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) civil works supply chain framework. This announcement marks the third and final stage of National Grid’s £59bn supply chain framework awards and underlines the commitment to delivering the energy infrastructure needed to support the Great Grid Upgrade and the UK’s energy transition. A total of six HVDC converter civil works suppliers have been awarded positions on Lot 1 of the Framework Agreement totalling approximately £9.07bn. In addition, three HVDC onshore cable civil works suppliers being awarded places on Lot 2 of the Framework, worth an estimated £3.7bn. The successful HVDC converter civils suppliers are Balfour Beatty, BAM Nuttall, Galliford Try, Laing O’Rourke, Skanska and Taylor Woodrow. The HVDC onshore cable civils Framework has been awarded to Balfour Beatty, Murphy, and VolkerFitzpatrick. Contracts have been secured for a five-year period, with the potential to extend for a further three years. Both Frameworks cover confirmed and anticipated projects, including Eastern Green Link 4, in partnership with SP Energy Networks and LionLink in partnership with TenneT. Nick Fletcher, UK Managing Director for Murphy, said: “At Murphy we are committed to a greener future, and working collaboratively, to deliver the UK’s energy transition and meet the government’s target of net zero by 2050. Our place on the HVDC framework enables us to continue to support the energy transition and builds on our long-standing and successful relationship with National Grid. We look forward to continuing to work together to improve life by delivering world-class infrastructure.” Zac Richardson, Chief Engineer and Offshore Delivery Director of Strategic Infrastructure at National Grid, said: “This marks a major step forward in delivering the UK’s future energy network. This investment not only underpins the transition to a more secure, independent and low-carbon energy future, but will also support tens of thousands of UK jobs, boost regional supply chains and strengthen our construction and engineering sectors. By building strategic, long-term partnerships with leading UK-based contractors, we’re ensuring the UK is ready to meet the growing demand for electricity with a resilient and modern network.” Gareth Burden, Construction Director of National Grid’s LionLink project, said: “Awarding these HVDC agreements is essential to strengthen our supply chain for our future projects. Today’s announcement ensures we are well placed to progress LionLink and deliver the vital energy infrastructure the nation needs to be more energy secure, whilst lowering household energy bills.” HIGHLIGHTS Murphy awarded HVDC onshore cable civils Framework Contracts have been secured for a five-year period, with the potential to extend for a further three years
Around 100 engineers per day are working around the clock to rebuild the Greek Street bridge. Murphy and it’s customer, Network Rail, are just days away from completing the main phase of a £20m project to overhaul Greek Street bridge in Stockport. Today (Wednesday 20 August) is day 18 of a 21-day suspension of all trains for the massive civil engineering project to take place. Over the last two weeks teams have successfully dismantled and removed 200 beams from the old structure, and lifted and positioned beams for its replacement over five railway lines. With just three more days until the railway reopens on Saturday 23 August in time for the August bank holiday, latest footage shows the major progress made over the last week. It reveals how, piece by piece, the large steel and concrete beams were driven by special police escort from a storage site at Trafford Park and craned into position in a carefully choreographed sequence over a four-day period. Lifted by two huge cranes, with a combined capacity of 1,300 tonnes, the new bridge parts were inched into position across a 60m gap above the tracks, in the place where the former structure was standing for 67 years. Around 100 engineers per day are working around the clock to rebuild the Greek Street bridge. When complete it will mean more reliable journeys for passenger and freight traffic on the railway below – and for road users above – as normally it carries a four-way roundabout. Stephen Harnett, Murphy project manager, said: “It’s immensely rewarding to complete this core milestone of the project. The effort put in by our team has been nothing short of amazing as they work around the clock to upgrade and return this critical piece of infrastructure to the local community.” William Brandon, Network Rail’s project manager, said: “The work at Greek Street has been planned meticulously, and its great to see it all come together on site as we expected. I’m so grateful to everyone working so hard on the project “Once the railway reopens, journeys for passengers will be safer and more reliable for the next 120 years. This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the West Coast Main Line for future generations. I’d like to thank local people for their patience while the project continues, and to passengers whose journeys have been affected over the last few weeks.” The original bridge, which was constructed in 1958 is being be replaced with a modern structure which will last for up to 120 years. HIGHLIGHTS New structure transported to site and craned into position in just four days Lifted by two huge cranes, with a combined capacity of 1,300 tonnes across a 60m gap
Around 100 engineers per day are working around the clock to rebuild the Greek Street bridge. A 67-year-old railway bridge carrying a roundabout over the West Coast Main Line in Stockport has been successfully removed in the first week of its major £20m replacement. Our Murphy project team is ten days into a 21-day railway closure for the huge civil engineering project to transform transport in the Northwest. One week into the highly anticipated project, 200 old concrete beams have been cut out and removed from the site. Lifted by two huge cranes, with a combined capacity of 1300 tonnes, the redundant bridge beams were carefully placed to the ground and taken off site by a fleet of 67 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). With a 60m cavernous gap where the old bridge used to be, the team can now prepare to install the new bridge this week. The new bridge structure is made up of 51 parts which will be moved into their final position by the two crawler cranes, which have a maximum hoisting height of 196m. Footage of the first week of work is now available, showing the impressive scale of the task at hand. Stephen Harnett, Murphy project manager, said: “At Murphy our aim is to improve life by delivering world-class infrastructure, so we are proud to be delivering this critical work with Network Rail. The project is a real team effort and we are all united in our commitment to improving the transportation network for the local community and the wider North West. We look forward to seeing the new bridge in use again very soon.” William Brandon, Network Rail project manager, said: “After years of planning it is fantastic to see the work at Greek Street get off to such a good start. The team on site are doing a great job, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the new bridge installed within the next two weeks. “Once the railway reopens, journeys for passengers will be safer and more reliable for the next 120 years. This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the West Coast Main Line for future generations. “I’m very grateful to passengers and the Stockport community for their patience during this essential work. I’d advise everyone to continue to plan their journeys carefully on the National Rail Enquiries website. We’ve done everything we can to create the best possible alternative travel plan.” The original bridge, which was constructed in 1958 needs to be replaced with a modern structure which will last for up to 120 years. HIGHLIGHTS One week into the project, 200 old concrete beams have been cut out and removed from the site The new bridge structure is made up of 10 concrete cills, 22 steel beams, 6 concrete beams and 13 parapet wall sections made of concrete and faced with brick to match the previous bridge colour
On 5 August 2025, the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) team welcomed Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, along with David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, to the route as they marked a significant milestone in the delivery of an electrified railway across the North. Sunday 3 August saw the first electric passenger train run between York (Colton Junction) and Church Fenton. This means that 25% of the 70-mile Transpennine route is now electrified following the introduction of electric services between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge last year. By summer 2027 this will be 40%, with full-route electrification expected in 2030. Once complete, the programme will cut carbon emissions by up to 108,000 tonnes per year and enable more rail freight, removing over 1000 lorries from the road daily. “We have reached a key milestone as 25% of the route is now electrified. enabling greener, faster, and more reliable journeys between York, Leeds, Huddersfield, and Manchester in the future. The improvements are already bringing economic and social benefits along the route and wider communities across the North”, said TRU Managing Director, James Richardson. Murphy has been delivering this work as part of the TRU East Alliance, consisting of Network Rail, Murphy, VolkerRail, Siemens and Systra. To read more about the TRU East Alliance, please click here. HIGHLIGHTS The first electric passenger train ran between York (Colton Junction) and Church Fenton on Sunday 3 August By summer 2027, TRU will be 40% electrified, with full-route electrification expected in 2030 Once complete, the programme will cut carbon emissions by up to 108,000 tonnes per year
