1995-07-10 Watts greets sale of BR manufacturing business (Department of Transport)

1995-06-05 Mawhinney welcomes sale of major rail businesses (Department of Transport)

1995-04-24 Rail privatisation timetable “on track” – Watts (Department of Transport)

_______________________________________________________________

date 26 July 1995
source Department of Transport
type Press release

note 233

Sir George Young, the Secretary of State for Transport, today
welcomed the sale of the first of the five British Rail Civil
Engineering Design Offices, which are all being sold as going
concerns.

More than 140 organisations have expressed interest in the businesses
with competitive bids coming from key engineering companies and
consultants, construction companies and a management buyout team. It
is hoped that all sales will be completed by the end of the month.

The Design Offices have a combined staff of some 660 people, with a
total turnover of #32 million in the financial year 1994/95.

Today's sale of the Birmingham-based Design and Construction Unit was
to Owen Williams Ltd, a Birmingham company.

The other four companies are based in Glasgow, Swindon, York and
Croydon.

Sir George said:

"The sale is further evidence of the growing momentum in the sales of
former BR businesses. It is proof of the private sector's interest
in BR's privatisation, and bodes well for future sales.

"The Design Offices have important skills that will stand them in
good stead in the private sector. Linking these skills with the
opportunities and experience of the private sector offers the
prospect of a successful future. "The sale is good news for the
staff of the Design Offices. While in the public sector, the Offices
have been held back from seeking work outside their traditional
market place. Following sale, they will be free to diversify and
develop further opportunities in the UK and overseas".

In addition, two other specialist Design Offices are due to be sold
soon. They are "Power Track", a railway electrification services
business, and "Business Plant Engineering" (BPE) which specialises in
the provision of mechanical and electrical engineering.

Notes to Editors

1.The five civil engineering design offices specialise in the
following areas of work:

- Bridge, structures, and building design;
- Permanent way design;
- Quantity surveying;
- Building engineering services;
- Site supervision;
- Safety management;
- Feasibility studies, appraisals, estimates;
- Land, track surveys.

2. The offices' main customer is at present Railtrack. It is
expected that they will gain the majority of their revenue from
Railtrack and other rail industry operating companies. They also
have the expertise to provide services in other sectors such as
highways and public buildings.

# = pounds sterling

Railhub Archive ::: 1995-07-26 DoT-001