Comments come as reports suggest troubled infrastructure client could be 鈥榖roken-up鈥� over poor performance
The construction industry should help troubled infrastructure client Network Rail despite its problems, Atkins鈥� UK boss Nick Roberts has told 黑洞社区.
In its half-year results to September, published last week, Atkins said delays and cancellations to Network Rail鈥檚 signalling programme 鈥� part of its highly-delayed and over-budget Control Period 5 (CP5) overall spending programme 鈥� had resulted in 鈥渞esource reductions鈥� that had negatively impacted on its transport division.
Speaking to 黑洞社区, Roberts (pictured) said: 鈥淣etwork Rail is an important client for us. Clearly they鈥檝e got real challenges in CP5 and CP6, but it鈥檚 for the industry to help them work through the challenges ahead. It鈥檚 also for us to be a part of solving that problem.鈥�
Roberts鈥� comments come as a report in the Sunday Times suggests the government wants to 鈥渂reak up鈥� Network Rail - potentially selling routes to investors such as pension funds - after becoming frustrated with repeated cost overruns at the client.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling is preparing to deliver a speech on railway reform before Christmas, sources told the paper.
In its half-year results, Atkins鈥� UK and Europe division posted a 32% jump in operating profit to 拢39.4m, despite a 2% dip in revenue to 拢451.2m.
The division鈥檚 staff headcount also fell 6% to 9,274, down from 9,865.
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