Rail & Infrastructure

Demand for public transport is growing as a result of congestion and environmental concern. Furthermore, operators have limited infrastructure capacity, and thus have difficulty meeting this demand. Public transport competes with roads for investment funds, and planning processes mean that transport infrastructure projects take a long time to deliver. PricewaterhouseCoopers helps the key players to meet these challenges. Our work includes:

  • Advising public sector organisations on business case analysis, financing and procurement of public transport and road infrastructure
  • Helping private sector sponsors raise finance for infrastructure
  • Developing charging mechanisms for roads and rail
  • Developing strategy and business plans and managing change in transport organisations including the transition from public to private sector
  • Improving efficiency in transport operations by optimising maintenance practices and implementing quality management systems
  • Advising on the acquisition and sale of transport businesses and assets
  • Assisting in managing and resolving disputes in complex capital projects
  • Harnessing transport investment as a trigger for economic development and regeneration

Some recent examples of our work in this area are:

We advised Greenwich Council on developing a business case for a station at Woolwich on the proposed Crossrail line across London. In three weeks we developed and presented the case to the UK Department for Transport which resulted in a ministerial decision to include the station in the Crossrail Bill being considered by the British Parliament.

We advised Rift Valley Railways on their successful bid for the Kenya/Uganda rail concession, including raising $125 million of finance to rehabilitate the infrastructure and rolling stock on this key artery. [The Rift Valley Railways Project was awarded the Project Finance Africa Transport Deal of the Year 2006]

We are currently advising Indian Railways on the transformation of their rolling stock supply chain through the tendering of take or pay contracts for the supply of new vehicles. Manufacturers are required to finance and build new factories specifically for the Indian market, based on these contracts.

We advised the Government of British Columbia on the procurement through a Public Private Partnership of the Richmond-Airport Vancouver rail link. [The Richmond-Airport project was awarded PFI’s North America Deal of the Year 2006].

We also advised the French Ministry of Transport throughout the entire tender process on one of the French government’s top priority transport infrastructure projects, the A19, which will connect the 101km long A10 motorway (Artenay) with the A6 motorway (Courtenay).

Over the past 10 years, we have raised more than 20 billion Euros for public and private sector clients and advised on 54 roads projects around the world.

Financing Transport Infrastructure and Public Private Partnerships

In order to bridge the growing gap between the cost of the infrastructure needed and the resources available, and to ensure that the infrastructure is delivered efficiently and cost effectively as possible, the key question is how to deliver cost efficient development. In this context, Public Private Partnerships (PPP's) are a growing element of public sector procurement across Europe

At PwC, we are globally recognised as leaders in providing PPP advise, offering a comprehensive solution to meet the PPP needs of our clients.