This week’s round-up of business news from the UK railway industry.
Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions has been awarded funding from the UK’s Connected Places Catapult innovation accelerator to demonstrate its hydrogen fuel cell and battery powered HydroShunter produced from a Class 08 diesel-electric loco. ‘Demonstrating novel technologies in the real world is fundamental to their adoption and scaling’, said Sameer Savani, Managing Director for Transport at Connected Places Catapult, on January 15. ’By supporting hydrogen innovators to showcase new capabilities, we’re backing the growth of businesses here in the UK. We’re also positioning our homegrown pioneers to capitalise on the exciting opportunities presented by the global sustainable energy transition.’
Network Rail has awarded Colas Rail UK’s Freight division a contract for the provision of ‘Thunderbird’ locomotives to rescue broken down passenger and freight trains between and London and Newcastle on the East Coast Main Line. The deal runs for an initial a three-year period from January 2026, with the potential to extend for up to a further three years. Two Class 67 locomotives will be based at Newark Northgate sidings.
Govia Thameslink Railway is undertaking preliminary market engagement to identify and evaluate technology capable of detecting the application of graffiti in train toilets. Its objective is to enhance facilities management, improve detection timescales, improve conviction rates and provide an active deterrent to vandalism.
Tees Valley Combined Authority has announced its intention to award Network Rail a £0·8m contract to develop a business case for electrification from Northallerton to Saltburn.
Zonegreen‘s Depot Personnel Protection System has been installed on four single-ended roads within the extended maintenance shed at West Midlands Trains’ Bletchley depot to control vehicle movements and provide physical protection to staff working in areas of risk. It is interlocked with the depot doors, retractable and mobile gantries, turntable and hoist to prevent unauthorised vehicle and equipment movement, as well as access to dangerous areas.
Atos has been appointed to the Crown Commercial Service’s eight-year RM6347 Transport Technology framework for six lots: 1 Transport Professional Services; 2 Transport Data Services; 4 Environmental Monitoring and Climate Resilience; 5 Enforcement, Security and Compliance; 7a Transport System Integration; 7c Transport Network Management.
Great Western Railway has leased a major office building next to the Plymouth station, in what its says is the largest office letting in Plymouth for a decade and the largest in the region outside of Bristol. GWR is to bring together operational and administrative teams and rail industry partners in a single, modern hub at what was originally constructed as a Royal Mail sorting office before being converted by the University of Plymouth in 2019. Hector Pearce and Altitude Investments acted jointly for the landlord, supported by Temple Bright LLP Solicitors, with additional support from Tozers LLP on planning.
South Western Railway is seeking information on Train Planning Systems capable of supporting the creation, editing, integration and validation of train schedules and rolling stock and traincrew diagrams. The requirement covers systems that provide intuitive planning interfaces, comprehensive visualisation tools and the ability to manage date‑bound timetable datasets across long‑term, short‑term and very short‑term planning horizons. SWR is additionally seeking insight into system capabilities for secure data exchange, auditability and reporting, as well as indicative commercial models. Meanwhile, Worldline IT Services UK is to be directly awarded a £2·2m contract to continue providing the existing platform.
Hull City Council has appointed local engineering consultancy Mason Clark Associates to provide contractual support and act as the technical approver for planned the replacement of the Priory Drive footbridge over the Hull to Scarborough railway. The concrete bridge is approaching the end of its service life and is showing movement to its foundations.