Department of Transport

Watts welcomes new investors in the railways
_______________________________________________________________

date 1 December 1995
source Department of Transport
type Press release

note 397

Another key element of rail privatisation fell into place today as
John Watts, Minister for Railways and Roads announced the sale of
Railways Occupational Health Limited (ROHL) to Occupational Health
Care Plc.

Railways Occupational Health Limited provides its customers in the
rail industry the medical assessments, such as drug and alcohol
screening and counselling, to ensure that employees undertaking
safety critical work, such as drivers and track workers are fit for
duty.

Mr Watts said:

"I am pleased to welcome yet more evidence of the gathering pace of
rail privatisation, and the Government's commitment to providing
Britain with a railway industry fit for the challenges of the 21st
century.

"Growing numbers of companies are bidding for and buying into the new
railway industry; the sale of the industry's support businesses is
part of a rolling programme. The work that ROHL provide for railway
companies helps to safeguard current safety levels."

A number of organisations expressed interest in purchasing ROHL. The
business, which employs 85 staff, operates ten regional Occupational
Health Centres, with a headquarters unit in London.


NOTES TO EDITORS

1.Railways Occupational Health Limited is one of several BR support
businesses to be sold in recent months, including Baileyfield
Switches and Crossing Works, Ditton Timber Treatment Works, and
Quality and Safety Services. BR plan to dispose of other Central
Service businesses by the end of the current financial year.

Railhub Archive ::: 1995-12-01 DoT-001