[Article] Irish rail business faces closure as contract goes to English firm

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...310361685.html

Irish rail business faces closure as contract goes to English firm

An Irish-based railway maintenance firm faces going out of business with the loss of 43 jobs due to Iarnród Éireann’s decision to award a contract to a rival firm based in England, the Commercial Court has been told. The contract is worth about €32 million over five years.

Lloyd Rail has brought proceedings aimed at overturning the decision last November to award a rail track operation and maintenance tender to Balfour Beatty Rail in Surrey. Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday granted Iarnród Éireann’s application to fast-track the action in the Commercial Court.