The White Paper, 'Delivering a sustainable railway' (Cm. 7176, ISBN 9780101717625) published on July 2007 and set the Government's general vision for the railways for the next thirty years. Network Rail's engineering overruns at New Year 2008 caused tremendous inconvenience to passengers across the country and inevitably shaped the Committee's oral evidence sessions. The Committee's investigation, along with analyses from the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) have led them to believe that the engineering overruns are symptonatic of crucial system flaws which have to be resolved if there is to be any hope of getting a sustainable railway, as promised in the White Paper. This report covers both subjects

Cities across the globe are looking to develop affordable, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible transportation solutions that can meet the accessibility needs of expanding metropolitan populations and support future economic and urban development. When appropriately planned and properly implemented as part of a larger public transportation network, urban rail systems can provide rapid mobility and vital access to city centers from surrounding districts. High-performing urban rail services, when carefully approached as development projects, can help enhance quality of life by giving citizens access to employment opportunities, essential services, urban amenities, and neighboring communities. The purpose of this Handbook is to synthesize and disseminate knowledge to inform the planning, implementation, and operations of urban rail projects with a view towards: -- Emphasizing the need for early studies and project planning; -- Making projects more sustainable (economically, socially, and environmentally); -- Improving socioeconomic returns and access to opportunities for users; -- Maximizing the value of private participation, where appropriate; and -- Building capacity within project implementing and managing institutions This Handbook provides experiential advice to tackle the technical, institutional, and financial challenges faced by decision makers considering urban rail projects. It brings together the expertise of World Bank staff and the input of numerous specialists to synthesize international 'good practices' and recommendations that are independent of commercial, financial political, or other interests. The material presented is intended as an honest-broker guide to maximize the impact and manage the challenges of urban rail systems in cities in both developed and developing countries. Rather than identify a single approach, this Handbook acknowledges the complexities and context necessary when approaching an urban rail development by helping to prepare decision makers to ask the right questions, consider the key issues, perform the necessary studies, apply adequate tools, and learn from international good practice all at the right time in the project development process.

African nations have an underdeveloped industrial and economic base such as their water supply, electrical systems, roads, railways, etc. Massive funding is required to build each of these basic services to the levels of developed nations – funding which they do not have. Many African companies rely on assistance from the government and global companies looking to invest or facilitate projects in the region. And for a variety of reasons, many of these projects fail to fulfil the needs of the nation. In order to facilitate their own economic development, African nations need to cultivate efficient project management practices and policies that will help them achieve their goal of sustainability. This book by a multidisciplinary project management consultant, contributes to the body of knowledge that each African country can attain and sustain economic development by suggesting how to eliminate and correct most causes of failures of projects in construction, water treatment, electricity and renewable energy. It suggests that they should also be able to obtain the sustainable harvesting of the benefits of project deliverables which have been planned for in order to implement the various aspects of their economic development. The suggestions in this book will make a difference in project delivery and are comprehensive enough to create a root-and-branch change which will affect the people involved in making decision on projects and their delivery. Thus, project management teams and their managers, organization decision makers, companies looking to invest in the region, and politicians who plan the economy have to understand the causes of unhelpful practices and what needs to be done in order to produce productive and effective delivery of long-term sustainable project. The principal goal of this book is to advise public and private companies, and international organizations conducting projects in Africa on how to prepare themselves, their businesses and enterprises to solve the problems that cause failure of projects and abandonment of project deliverables. The book also recommends the necessity for a commercial enterprise or government entity to prepare and develop its vision, mission, and strategic objects to constitute the basis of a business plan which should be implemented for successful operations. After first identifying various failed and abandoned projects in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, the author provides an analysis of why these projects failed or were abandoned. By using methodologies of Organizational Project Management (OPM), Project Portfolio Management (PPM) and project management techniques, he suggests a framework for project delivery which could be used as a foundational structure and platform that will address the problem and provide solutions for the achievement of successful and sustainable project delivery in Africa.

Written by experienced and innovative projects lawyer Arent van Wassenaer, this book explains what the critical success factors are for construction projects to be completed on time, within everyone’s budget, to the right quality, with all stakeholders satisfied and without disputes. In so doing, van Wassenaer discusses how such projects could be structured, tendered for, executed and completed, and what legal and non-legal mechanisms are available to achieve success in construction projects. Using examples of real projects, A Practical Guide to Successful Construction Projects provides tools for those in leading and managerial positions within the construction industry to change – where necessary – their usual operational methods into methods which are aimed at achieving project success.

Mega-projects descending into chaos and litigation embarrass governments all over the world, as the public sector presides over fiascos that waste billions and destroy reputations. Inquiry after Inquiry finds the damaging and costly failures of major government projects can be traced back to the contract establishment process. Procuring Successful Mega-Projects, is a mentor’s guide for project directors, providing frank, fearless, practical advice on how to set up a major government contract that won’t end up in court. It’s all there: How to develop and negotiate a contract that doesn’t contain undeliverable obligations or perverse incentives but does contain the necessary provisions for successful project management. How to navigate the pitfalls of the public sector environment, from hiring freezes and governance frameworks to the complexities of managing the relationship with the Minister. How to select and manage the lawyers and other advisers, build the adviser-client relationship and recognise that unwelcome advice may not be unhelpful. How to structure and follow a bullet-proof procurement process that is fair to bidders and delivers great outcomes. Procuring Successful Mega-Projects is essential reading, not just for the project director, but for everyone with a stake in the success of a mega-project: public sector executives; Ministers; private sector tenderers; infrastructure lenders; legal, financial and technical professional service providers; and procurement and project management professionals.