TransCityRail North - Delivering CP7 – collaboration, efficiency and making the case for Rail

During the TransCityRail North event in Manchester, AECOM led a panel discussion that included Eoin O'Neill, Network Rail's Capital Delivery Director for the North West and Central Region, Conor Linnell, AECOM's Rail Leader for the North West and Central Region, and Georgia Ehrmann, Avanti West Coast's Head of Network Development and Planning.The need for more industry collaboration was evident throughout the debate, with Eoin O'Neill encouraging the supply chain to think of Network Rail as a colleague rather than a customer. Eoin also outlined how Network Rail is striving to make it simpler for SMEs to participate in CP7 possibilities, making it clear to attendees that while Eastern suspended their CP7 procurement on Friday with hopes to relaunch it soon, NW&C has no plans to do the same.Connor provided AECOM's perspective, emphasising that in his wide experience if we are all working toward the same goal but not together, efficiencies are lost.Georgia offered some intriguing statistics to the discussion, stating that research has shown that every £1 invested in rail in the North generates £2.50 in economic growth.