The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) in the US has awarded a $700m contract to a consortium led by the engineering consultancy Parsons Brinkerhoff for the high-speed rail programme.

The consortium includes Network Rail's international consulting arm Network Rail Consulting and management consultants LeighFisher.

"The consortium will provide programme delivery and management services on the first phase of California's $68bn high-speed railway project."

As part of the deal, the consortium will provide programme delivery and management services on the first phase of California's $68bn high-speed railway project.

The rail delivery partner (RDP) contract approved by the CHSRA takes a new and expanded approach to the first high-speed rail programme in the US.

The RDP contract will help move forward with construction and focus towards planning and implementation of operations.

Parsons Brinckerhoff beat Bechtel Infrastructure to win the contract, which will run through 2022.

The companies were evaluated on their ability to address engineering and construction abilities, including seismic tunnelling, high-speed systems, operations, testing, commissioning and support of alternative delivery models, including public-private partnerships.

By 2029, the California high-speed rail system will run from San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin in under 3h at speeds in excess of 200mph.

Eventually, the system will extend to Sacramento and San Diego, totalling 800 miles with up to 24 stations.