Balfour lands £1.4 billion LA deal as Trump prepares to splash out $1.5 trillion on US infrastructure

BALFOUR Beatty, the company that helped devise the Channel Tunnel, has landed a deal to build a new train service at Los Angeles international airport.

The contract is worth £1.4 billion to a consortium of which Balfour is 30%, the other partners being Fluor Corporation, Flatiron West, and Dragados USA.

The new rail system is being built amid talk from Donald Trump’s administration of a $1.5 trillion spend on improving American infrastructure. Critics say this is a dream rather than a real plan. Chief executive Leo Quinn said: “This award at LAX, one of the world’s busiest airports, recognises our expertise and track record for delivering critical transportation infrastructure.”

Other UK engineering companies must hope they can win a share of planned spending on big US projects, if Trump (pictured) can convince Congress to agree to his schemes.

At LAX, the plan is for a 2.25-miles above-ground transport system that will link the terminal to other facilities.