<p>Downer EDI has lifted its after tax profits by 22.5% to $81.5m on the back of strong performances from its infrastructure, rail and engineering divisions.</p> <p>The group’s revenue for the year ended June 30 jumped 18% to $3.2bn.</p> <p>Downer EDI Rail, which manufactures Sydney’s Millennium Train, pushed its turnover up 23% to $409.9m through increased volume from both maintenance and new build contracts, the company said.</p> <p>The outlook for 2005 is positive, according to Downer’s managing director Stephen Gillies.</p> <p>"In Australia and New Zealand, governments have announced record levels of expenditure in rail and road infrastructure upgrade, and in some jurisdictions are actively embracing public private partnerships (PPPs) as a way of moving forward in funding and managing essential infrastructure," Mr Gillies said.</p> <p>Downer EDI is well positioned to be "a significant player" in PPPs, he said.</p> <br />
