Department of Transport

Watts welcomes sales of two BR businesses
_______________________________________________________________

date 18 September 1995
source Department of Transport
type Press release

note 293

John Watts, Minister for Railways and Roads, today welcomed the
simultaneous sales of two more BR engineering businesses.

Last Friday's sale of the design office, Civil Engineering Design
Group, (CEDG), York, was to British Steel plc. A related specialist
engineering business, BPE Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Consultancy Limited, was also sold last Friday to James Scott
Limited, a member of AMEC plc. Both businesses were sold as going
concerns.

The sales of CEDG York and BPE are part of BR's programmed sale of
five civil engineering Design Offices and two related specialised
engineering businesses. Four of the five Design Offices have now
been sold, with the last in the series, and the remaining engineering
business, planned for sale shortly.

Welcoming the sale, John Watts said:

"These simultaneous sales prove that there is continuing and
significant private sector interest in our BR privatisation
programme, and bode well for the steadily accelerating sales of BR
businesses.

"Linking these businesses' important skills with the opportunities
and experience of the private sector offers the prospect of a
successful future. Freedom from the constraints of public ownership
is very good news for customers and employees alike."

Notes to editors:

1. CEDG York was offered for sale last December along with the other
civil engineering design offices and Power Track, a railway
electrification business. BPE, which specialises in the provision of
mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy services, was
offered for sale last March.

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

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

3. CEDG York's main customer is at present Railtrack. It is expected
that it will gain the majority of its revenue from rail industry
operating companies. CEDG York also has the expertise to provide
services in other sectors such as highways and public buildings.

4. Sale of the remaining design office and Power Track are due to be
completed shortly.

Railhub Archive ::: 1995-09-18 DoT-001