“FCP provided strategic advice and subsequent delivery on critical commercial issues including a range of negotiations on complex and sensitive business and contractual challenges where they often led the task”

Nick Newton, Chief Executive of the former Strategic Rail Authority

Contract Negotiation

Railways worldwide now operate in a commercial environment in which the contractual interfaces are crucial to the financial results of companies and to the effectiveness of operations. As such the contractual regime is central to several important aspects of the railway operating environment. It can both influence and be influenced by government policy, and is often central to the arrangements put in place for regulation in the industry. Contracts are certainly critical in the railway supply chain and wheel-rail interface between train operating companies and infrastructure providers.

Beyond this contracts are pivotal to the relationship between governments and operators in the development of PFI and PPP deals and franchise bids and are crucial for the success of such key activities as rolling stock specification and procurement.

First Class Partnerships has extensive UK experience in negotiating on behalf of the government and private companies in both letting and acquiring concessioning contracts and have recently extended this capability elsewhere in the European Union. We are also experienced in negotiating and managing contracts between private companies and infrastructure controllers.

First Class Partnerships provides strategic, commercial, operations, engineering and infrastructure rail consultancy and advice to leading rail companies, investors in rail, governments and regulators around the globe.