Mott MacDonald has won the detailed design contract for a 1.3km rail link in phase two of the East London Line

The line, which will form the final connection for London鈥檚 orbital railway, will run between the existing South London Line and Surrey Quays.

The Official Journal notice for the main construction contract is scheduled to be issued in February, although a source at Transport for London has said it could be delayed, with construction likely to start in the final quarter of 2010.

Balfour Beatty and Carillion, which are working in a joint venture on phase one of the project, will not be teaming up for the final part.

A source at Carillion said: 鈥淭he job isn鈥檛 going to be big enough to warrant us teaming up again. We鈥檒l probably be bidding against each other.鈥�