The former Strategic Raily Authority consultant will lead the rail forecasting team.

Atkins has boosted its rail planning team with the appointment of Michael Hayes as a managing consultant.

Hayes joins from the Strategic Rail Authority and will lead the rail forecasting team, based in London.

At the SRA he led on all aspects of passenger demand forecasting, including route utilisation strategies and regional planning assessments.

He will work with both the public and private sector.

Atkins said that the appointment was part of the company's plan to expand its rail planning capacity.