Open Day Showcases Full Range of Lanes Group Rail Capabilities

Lanes Group Rail has received multiple service enquires after hosting an open day to demonstrate to rail industry partners its full range of capabilities.

The event, held at the division’s base in Rainham, Essex, showcased the services it can deliver from within the group and through a well-established, collaborative supply chain.

Cost management and resilience

LGR’s Business Development Manager, Bill Waring, said: “Network Rail and the main contractors who deliver its strategic investment and maintenance programmes are looking for suppliers who can add significant value in terms of cost management, safety, service resilience, and sustainability.

“I’m confident that, during our open day, we showed our customers we can realise all those advantages, which is why we’re already receiving extra enquiries about the services we deliver.”

LGR is well placed to support Network Rail in meeting a primary goal – stated in its new £45billion five-year investment plan – to significantly improve track drainage to meet the challenges of climate change.

The division is also determined to continue to deliver high quality service for other key customers, including Transport for London.

Drone service interest

LGR provides drainage services for TfL on London Underground and London Overground, as well as a significant package of FM services.

Bill Waring said: “Lanes Group’s core offer remains drainage services, but it has recently added significant additional capabilities to its service portfolio that the rail industry will need over the coming decade.

“Also, as a major service provider to the water utilities industry, we can provide significant advantages in terms of joined-up working between the two sectors.”

LGR’s teams demonstrated their delivery of a wide range of services, including track drainage surveying, cleaning and replacement, vegetation management, and drone operations.

There was particular interest in LGR’s drone inspection and surveying service, reflecting the growing recognition that the technique provided significant advantages, including cost control, safety, enhanced data capture, and rapid turnaround of reports across rail environments.

New spray lining service

Visitors saw how the division can deliver services anywhere in the UK by project managing and supervising work packages delivered with support from rail-qualified teams based at Lanes Group’s network of 20 depots.

A team from Lanes Group’s sewer lining division gave a demonstration of how they install an ultraviolet cured in place pipe (CIPP) liner in a 600mm diameter pipe.

The division can install liners in culverts up to 1800mm in diameter and small diameter pipes using LED light CIPP lining. It can also now deliver highly-effective and sustainable spray lining of access chambers and sumps.

Lanes Group companies also promoted their capabilities.

Lanes Infrastructure showcased its ability to deliver large multi-site programmes for digital cabling infrastructure and electric vehicle station installation.

Supply chain partners

While Sapphire Utility Solutions, another Lanes Group company, explained how it can deliver multi-utility support, including clean water, gas, electricity, and digital network installation and maintenance.

LGR also invited supply chain partners to exhibit at the event, demonstrating its ability to put together flexible and efficient service teams to deliver complex rail work programmes.

They included: rail drainage products manufacturers Aqua Fabrications, Concrete Canvas, and Scott Parnell; permanent way manufacturers Trackworks and Premier Rail; plant and equipment hire specialists Speedy Hire and Maybe Hire; access specialist Kite Projects; PPE and maintenance equipment supplier SIM; and skills specialist City & Guilds.

Bill Waring thanked LGR’s operational teams and supply chain partners for making the open day a significant success, adding: “Their motivation to work together to deliver a quality service shone through.”

Find out more

Talk to Lanes Group Rail about your service needs. Contact LGR Business Development Manager Bill Waring. Telephone: 07731 346814. Email: bill.waring@lanesgroup.co.uk.