City law firm to advise Irish on railways deal

A consortium including City law firm Simmons & Simmons has been appointed to advise the Irish Republics Department of Public Enterprise on the policy framework for public private partnerships (PPPs) in the rail sector.

The firm is acting as joint legal adviser for the project along with top Irish firm Arthur Cox.

The brief includes Dublins proposed IR1.4 billion on-street light rail network, the citys recently announced IR4.5 billion Metro system and potentially some of the heavy rail networks also envisaged for the fast-growing capital.

The objective is to achieve a co-ordinated and consistent approach to PPPs in Ireland, learning from experiences in the UK and elsewhere, in time for the first schemes to be launched in late 2001.

The other members of the consortium are lead adviser Ernst & Young, WS Atkins and Fitzpatrick Associates.

Construction partner Richard Dyton led Simmons work on the bid.

He said: Dublin boasts one of the most exciting economies in Europe, and the Irish government has rightly recognised that first-rate public transport will be required if the present prosperity is to be carried into the future.

Simmons construction team has been involved in the 5.3 billion Channel Tunnel Rail Link project; the Thameslink 2000 project; the proposed PPP for the sub-surface network of London Underground; the project for the upgrade of the West Coast Main Line; the Lloyds Building; the headquarters for BP; and PFI projects for Carillion and MJ Gleeson.

The new Metro system will extend to 70km with approximately 14km underground, forming a circle stretching from Tallaght to Blanchardstown and under the city centre.

There will also be a link to the Dublin International Airport.

The Metro is in addition to the IR700m Luas light rail system, on schedule for completion in 2003.

ends - Neil Rose