Alstom has extended its materials logistics contract with Wincanton for a further three years, and expanded the scope with the creation of a dedicated warehouse at Haydock near Liverpool to support the refurbishment of the Avanti West Coast Pendolino fleet. Materials will be transferred from an existing facility in Warrington, and Wincanton will continue to undertake inventory management from a shared-user facility in Blackburn.
Network Rail has awarded GB Railfreight a £18·9m contract for the management of train movements at the Melton Rail Innovation Development Centre test track for four years, with an option for a two-year extension.
Steering system manufacturer Pailton Engineering has joined the Rail Alliance business and academic networking organisation. The company has entered the rail sector as a supplier of Panhard rods and suspension links, and said the partnership would involve close links with Birmingham University, supporting research into the digitalisation of components in rail suspension systems so that operators receive an automatic alert when the part is wearing out. ‘We are just at the beginning of this journey, but this kind of technology will offer huge benefits’ said Head of Sales Roger Brereton. ‘We’re confident that with the help of the Rail Alliance, we’ll have access to the right facilities and businesses to see what is possible.’
Transport for Wales has completed the interior refurbishment and repainting of the first of 36 Class 150 DMUs. ‘We’re continuing to face the huge challenges presented by the pandemic and that’s why it’s so important that we look to provide more seats and space on our trains, as well as modern refreshed interior’, said Director of Transport Operations Alexia Course.
HS2 Ltd has begun the process of appointing a specialist contractor for the design, supply, commissioning and support over 25 years of an engineering management system which would provide an integrated SCADA layer consolidating multiple SCADA systems from multiple domains and contracts. The shortlist is expected to be announced in the summer, with the award of contract worth an estimated £65m in 2022.
Engineering contractor Keltbray has achieved the Carbon Trust Standard for Carbon certification. This required it to demonstrate how it is taking measures to reduce carbon across the business, primarily through the reduction of oil. Keltbray said its ambitions also include offering customers low-carbon concrete for temporary works, and pioneering technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells for power generation and hosting independent trials of alternative fuels to power heavy plant.
The Railway Benefit Fund has awarded direct financial support to more than 100 families in the first school term of 2021. The Home Schooling Fund ran from early January until February half term, providing more than 170 pieces of home schooling equipment including laptops, tablets and printers to 217 children.