03.05.12
Network Rail becoming a ‘group of companies’, says Kirby
Simon Kirby, director of investment projects at Network Rail, has said it will soon be a “fundamentally different company” – and could even be better described as “a group of companies” – as it alters its structure, in a speech at Infrarail 2012 at Birmingham’s NEC.
Speaking to a sizeable crowd on the final day of the event, Kirby said cultural change was coming to Network Rail, thanks to the co-location of teams at the new National Centre in Milton Keynes. Its Melton Street offices are closing in June.
At the heart of the changes is more competition, as he explained that running a “monopoly organisation” makes it impossible to demonstrate value for money. He said the future would be more competitive, with Network Rail’s spun-off major projects unit competing in an open market, and the client organisation focusing more and more on different degrees of partnership, alliance, and joint ventures with suppliers.
The process began on April 16, with the launch of the new structure under Project Dime, with further milestones to come over the next two years, by which time, Kirby said, they would be “a major player, but not the only player” when it comes to project design and delivery.
He gave more details of Network Rail’s planned international consultancy business, saying it will be more about “changing perceptions” than revenue raising.
He also said he was “very confident” that the Government would approve funding for the £560m Northern Hub in the HLOS (high level output statement), due to be published in July.
For more from Kirby’s talk, and everything else at Infrarail 2012, see the June/July edition of RTM. Rail professionals can subscribe for free at www.railtechnologymagazine.com
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email us at [email protected]