LeighFisher is a global management consultancy with expertise in transportation, energy, utilities, government and infrastructure services. Our goal is to be the strategic business partner of investors, operators and governments to help them navigate and overcome the most challenging issues they may face.
LeighFisher (formerly Jacobs Consultancy) has provided strategic and advisory management consultancy services to clients in railway and related infrastructure sectors from its global offices in the US, UK, Italy,Canada and India. LeighFisher has a long-term commitment to developing a leading global, multi-sector management consultancy business and is explicitly configured around four emerging drivers of long-term value for its clients: independence, responsiveness, innovation and global insight.
Management consultancy for rail networks
There is growing awareness of the significant economic as well as environmental benefits that result from an efficient and well-connected rail network. The manner in which this objective is delivered varies from country to country, depending on its historic rail network, size and land-use patterns. Networks can be urban providing focussed services for a specific population or national providing the interconnectivity between major economic centres.
Rail network upgrades and new schemes
In the UK the objective is to maximise the efficiency of these existing networks and drive down the cost of delivery. At the same time there is the need to develop the next generation of links providing a high-speed network for inter regional travel. This pattern is being replicated across the developed rail passenger networks in Europe.
High-speed rail schemes
In South Africa, a country with only limited existing rail services, the bold decision was taken to not only develop a brand new high-speed rail system linking the key cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria to each other and to the international airport, but to procure it through a public-private partnership model. This leap directly to high-speed rail is now being mirrored by schemes in locations as diverse as Brazil (Rio de Janeiro – Sao Paulo), the US (Sacramento – San Francisco – Los Angeles – San Diego) and Russia (Moscow – St Petersburg).
Rail network expansion programmes
Many countries are endeavouring to develop a comprehensive network of high speed lines, including France, Spain and China, which already has the largest high speed rail network (over 5,000 miles).
Rail project consultancy services for public sector sponsors
LeighFisher provides strategic and advisory management consultancy services to clients in the railway sector. LeighFisher advises private sector bidders and public promoters for inter-city rail franchises across the UK.
LeighFisher advised both the public promoters and private sector bidders for inter-city rail franchises across the UK and provided resources for activities, including:
- Strategy development
- Project specification
- Train and resource planning
- Demand and revenue modelling
- Financial modelling
- Ticket sales
- Revenue protection strategies
- Station development
- Bid writing
- Bid evaluation
- Contract negotiation
LeighFisher’s inter-city franchise projects have included:
- West Coast Mainline
- East Coast Mainline
- Great Western
- Greater Anglia
- Integrated Kent Franchise
- Chiltern Railways
- East Midlands
- West Midlands
- South Western
Consultancy services for rapid rail links
LeighFisher was initially commissioned to derive traffic and revenue forecasts for the $3bn, 80km, PPP-procured rail link between Johannesburg, Pretoria and Johannesburg’s O.R.Tambo International Airport. This was on behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Department of Transport and Public Works. The link was planned to connect central and suburban stations in the two cities, together with intermediate stations and Johannesburg International Airport. LeighFisher evaluated the competing bids and advised the Province to successful financial close in January 2007. The forecasts were then updated during 2008 – 2010 to take account of more recent macroeconomic growth and to assist in final project design. The first phase of the rail link opened in 2010 with full network completion expected this year.
Concept and design services for new rail connections
Jacobs Netherlands was commissioned by the municipal governments of Amsterdam and Almere to develop a transportation concept, design and business case for a new rail connection across the IJmeer Lake from Almere to Amsterdam South in the Netherlands. LeighFisher worked closely with its Dutch partners to provide the "glue" to deliver a cost-effective and creative solution.
