The separate infrastructure business is still in the planning stage
锘縏he 拢6bn major projects division of Network Rail could be hived off to form a separate business that could ultimately compete to run infrastructure projects overseas, 好色先生TV understands.
Two separate sources close to the body鈥檚 senior management said incoming chief executive David Higgins had asked the organisation鈥檚 director of investment projects, Simon Kirby, to work up plans to run the division as a separate business.
The move would see the business, which runs projects such as the 拢5.5bn Thameslink improvements and the 拢600m Birmingham gateway scheme, asked to turn a profit on its own account.
One source said: 鈥淜irby has been given the remit to build a business with an overseas operation. If it鈥檚 going to compete globally, it will have to become more efficient.鈥�
A separate source said: 鈥淭hey are currently looking at what blockages might stop them from doing this [competing overseas].鈥�
A Network Rail spokesman declined to speculate on future developments. He said: 鈥淥bviously, we are open to any new thinking which will deliver projects in a more efficient way.鈥�
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