Atkins signals need for rail boost

ROBIN Southwell, chief executive of rail engineer WS Atkins, said three quarters of the estimated £30bn cost of investment in the rail network over the next 10 years was 'necessary and unavoidable'.

He added that the Government's decision to place Railtrack into administration 'has served to draw attention to the continuing need for investment in the rail network'.

Orders continue to come in to the group from Railtrack's administrators. The latest is a £1.7m contract to test and commission signalling equipment at Shortlands Junction near Beckenham, Kent, part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

Atkins' adjusted pre-tax profits rose 12% to £20.8m in the six months to September. The interim dividend rose 5% to 3.78p. The shares slipped 25p to 602 1/2p.