Network Rail has launched a new business aimed at getting better value for money on infrastructure projects.
The new commercially focussed, regionally based, projects delivery business – Network Rail Infrastructure Projects – has four regional directors and three programme directors responsible for delivery of major renewal and enhancement infrastructure in their area.
Regional directors include: Roger Dickinson – Scotland and the North East; Neil Thompson – Central; Robbie Burns – Wales and Western and Nick Elliott – Southern. Programme directors are Graham Greener, FTN/GSM-R, the upgrading of driver-signaller comms; Jim Crawford, Thameslink and Mark Southwell, Signalling.
They will manage their own profit and loss and will be charged with winning work under a new competitive structure proposed by Network Rail.
Says Simon Kirby, managing director, investment projects, ‘Network Rail is transforming the way it works as a company and taking the lead in driving change through the rail industry. Our commitment is to build not just a bigger and better railway, but a better value railway too.’
He went on, ‘It is clear that capital investment in infrastructure must be delivered as efficiently as possible, with the best possible value secured for every pound spent.’
To enable open competition for this work, Network Rail Infrastructure Projects will become a separate legal entity next year.
It will then be able to bid against other market competitors for some of Network Rail’s capital programme for Control Period 5 (2014-19), as well as for other off-network projects.
