Department of Transport

Major construction company buys BR track renewals business
_______________________________________________________________

date 1 March 1996
source Department of Transport
type Press release

note 66

Building giant, Tarmac Construction Ltd, has bought Central Track
Renewals Company Ltd the latest BR infrastructure services company to
be sold, John Watts, Minister for Railways and Roads, announced
today.

Welcoming the sale of the Birmingham-based company as another
important step in the privatisation of the railway industry, Mr Watts
said:

"Once more the private sector has demonstrated its backing for a
privatised railway industry. This is a strategic purchase for Tarmac
Construction, helping them look towards a long term future as
suppliers to the railway industry.

"Three of the 13 BR infrastructure service companies have now been
sold and I expect to announce further sales shortly.

The 13 British Rail Infrastructure Service businesses employ some
24,000 people and have a combined turnover of more than #1 billion.
Infrastructure Maintenance Units provide a wide range of maintenance
services for their primary customer Railtrack, including maintaining
track, signals, power supplies, and structures such as bridges and
tunnels. Track Replacement Units provide a range of services from
track renewal, again principally for Railtrack, to heavy track
maintenance as sub-contractors for the Infrastructure Maintenance
Units.

"These are exciting times for Britains railways," added Mr Watts.
"We are entering a new era where I expect private sector skills to
revolutionise the whole railway industry. That should mean a better
service for passengers and freight customers alike."

Notes to editors

1. Central Track Renewals Company Limited was offered for sale along
with the other track renewal companies in August last year.

2. The Track Renewal Companies (TRCs) provide specialised on-site
engineering work, undertaking track renewals principally for
Railtrack, and heavy mechanised plant hire as sub- contractors to the
Infrastructure Maintenance Companies (IMCs). The IMCs provide a
comprehensive range of engineering services covering all railway
infrastructure related activities associated with civil engineering,
telecommunications and signals engineering, facilities management,
plant and electrical engineering and project management. The IMCs are
also an important source of skilled labour for the TRCs.

# = pounds sterling

Railhub Archive ::: 1996-03-01 DoT-001