Prideaux joins link consortium

JOHN Prideaux, who resigned from British Rail after rows about the high-speed Channel Tunnel link, is to join a German- led consortium bidding to build the 68-mile project, writes Russell Hotten.

He is being appointed to the supervisory board of the group led by Hochtief, Germany's third-biggest construction firm.

Mr Prideaux, an adviser to the consortium, was chairman of Union Railways, the BR division set up to oversee the development.

He resigned in August last year after a battle with Sir Bob Reid, BR's chairman, and the Department of Trade and Industry over the proposed privatisation of Union Railways and the choice of the London terminus for the link.

He is regarded as a leading expert on the tunnel project.