LNWR News

8/05/11 - Depot integration puts Arriva’s LNWR on track for future growth

Leading train maintenance specialist LNWR is on track to grow its business after expanding operations to include four new depots. Four Axiom Rail depots transferred from DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd to Arriva’s LNWR rail maintenance operations. The transfer of the passenger train servicing and rolling stock maintenance depots at Bristol, Eastleigh, Cambridge and Tyne Yard (Gateshead) to the Crewe-based business gives it a combined turnover of £30 million with a 210 strong workforce. The combined business increases LNWR’s strength and geographic presence on the UK rail network. Mark Knowles, managing director of LNWR, said: “Bringing the expertise in the five depots together will help us to grow our operations in the years ahead. “By working as one company we can offer more to the industry. We have highly skilled people at all of our depots ready to deliver and are already looking at how we can use our joint capacity to offer more overnight fuelling, repair and servicing plus quality routine maintenance, as well as major refurbishment and overhaul work for train operators and rolling stock companies.” LNWR is working on plans to enhance facilities for staff at the sites and invest in new equipment and people to assist in future bids for more heavy maintenance and refurbishment work in addition to its established train servicing activities. Bob Holland, managing director of Arriva’s UK Trains division, said: “Developing our LNWR maintenance business is essential if we want to progress and continue to compete with some of the largest international maintenance companies for major contracts. “The new combined operation strengthens and enhances our business. It will help us to achieve our long-term vision of offering the complete package of professional maintenance and refurbishment services to the rail industry.” LNWR was founded in 1996 and, following significant investment in its Crewe facility, has become a leading servicing facility for modern electric and diesel trains. It services one of the most diverse fleets of trains in the UK and is one of the largest depots and stabling facilities on the West Coast Main Line. The four former Axiom Rail depots, which transferred to LNWR on 21 April 2011, primarily maintain and fuel CrossCountry’s Voyager and Class 170 fleets. They also carry out maintenance and servicing programmes for Riviera Trains and some light maintenance work for DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd on wagons and locomotives

2/08/10 - LNWR Class 158 Refurbishment Announced

Trains used on Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) mainline service are to be upgraded thanks to Welsh Assembly Government and ATW funding. Ministers are providing £7.5 million to the improvement programme which will take place over the next 18 months, with trains in Arriva’s fleet undergoing a complete upgrade at LNWR Crewe. This will include new seating, a state of the art Passenger Information System and improved luggage storage facilities, additional space for wheelchairs, as well as a full refurbishment of toilets. Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “This Assembly Government investment in Arriva Trains will see a much better travelling environment for passengers with trains upgraded and modernised. Our aim is to make the travelling experience more appealing. There is strong growth in the number of people travelling on train services in Wales and we are investing in these improvements to make people’s journeys more comfortable and more enjoyable. We hope these refurbishments, as well as our significant investment in improving Welsh train stations, will get more people out of their cars and on to our trains.” Arriva Trains Wales Commercial Director Mike Bagshaw said: “This extensive programme of improvements to Arriva Trains Wales’ fleet marks a major milestone for the franchise. Arriva Train Wales is now one of the most punctual train companies in the UK with passenger numbers growing all the time. Our focus now is very much on improving the quality of our trains and stations, together with reducing journey travel times. This joint program of investment between Arriva and the Welsh Assembly Government will deliver a step change in quality and will benefit the millions of passengers every year travelling on our main line routes. “Arriva Trains Wales in conjunction with Angel Trains and ALSTOM has committed to significant investment in its Class 175 fleet, which serves routes between North and South Wales and Manchester. Work on the fleet has already begun with the first completed unit already in service. All 27 units are expected to be completed by May of next year with new carpets, seat covers and a refresh of the vestibule area. The Welsh Assembly Government funded refurbishment of the Class 158 fleet will be one of the most extensive of its kind the industry has seen to date, delivering an “as new” train interior designed around the needs of today’s traveller. Work on the Class 158 fleet is scheduled to begin in December 2010 with the programme for all 24 units expected to be completed by summer 2012. Passengers will start seeing the refurbished trains come into operation from January 2011, when the first units will be released into service. The funding agreed by the Welsh Assembly Government also enables the refresh of the Arriva Trains Wales Class 153 fleet. Eight units are due to undergo considerable improvement work including a full repaint of the passenger saloon, the replacement all flooring and fabrics, as well as a refresh to the toilet facilities. The 153 programme also includes work to increase the height of seating in relation to windows, to improve visibility and comfort during journeys. Work on the Class 153 units has commenced at Arriva Trains Wales’ Canton Traincare depot and the first unit has now been completed.

9/03/10 - LNWR completes prestige refurbishment for Arriva Trains Wales

LNWR, the Crewe based train maintenance specialist, has delivered a very special refurbished MkIII coach for use on Arriva Trains Wales’ Cardiff to Holyhead service. The vehicle (10259) now provides a First Class saloon together with kitchen and buffet facilities on the train. Taken out of front line service with Virgin Trains some four years ago, the vehicle had not turned a wheel making it a challenge to carry out the refurbishment and repair to the very high standards demanded. The project took LNWR just over three months to complete including stripping back to a bare shell, and carrying out the necessary repairs before refinishing the vehicle in Arriva Trains Wales’ striking livery. The passenger saloon was completely overhauled and refinished, and equipped to provide at-seat power and table lamps. The final result is a complete transformation of the vehicle inside and out and a new lease of life for 10259 which will now offer many years of service for Arriva’s passengers before requiring further heavy maintenance. This project is the latest confirmation of LNWR’s arrival as a major supplier of rail vehicle overhaul, refurbishment and repair services. LNWR managing director Mark Knowles is optimistic about forward prospects in the market. He said: “Refurbishing and overhauling 10259 demonstrates that LNWR can undertake complex projects and, despite the many complications faced, deliver on budget in a very compressed timescale. “We now have a vibrant and growing heavy maintenance and refurbishment business to go alongside our established train servicing activity. We are now the complete package.” Arriva Trains Wales operates rail services in Wales and the border counties. It operates the Monday to Friday Holyhead – Cardiff – Holyhead service under a contract with the Welsh Assembly Government in order to provide a convenient, limited stop, fast service linking North and South Wales

5/11/09 - Wedding Bells at LNWR

Two of LNWR’s senior managers were married recently in the space of a few weeks! First off the mark was Russell Fletcher who married Kathryn at St Andrews, Prestwold on 19th September, followed closely by Gary Sutcliffe who married Caroline at Derby Registry Office on 24th October. Normally Russell looks after the Materials Management at LNWR and Gary is in charge of all things Technical, Quality and Safety related. Both are members of the senior management team and have been with the company for many years having overseen its transition into a front line train maintenance business. LNWR offers its congratulations to both couples and its best wishes for a long and happy future together. 05 11 09

30/03/09 - New £3M Train Servicing Facility Completed

LNWR today announced the completion of its £3M train servicing facility which is now amongst the most modern in the UK. It also has one of the highest capacities of any equivalent UK depot. The facility has been installed over the last 18 months as LNWR built up capacity to meet the demands of the new timetable on the West Coast Mainline introduced last December. The final element was the installation of the carriage wash plant commissioned over the last few weeks. The servicing facility can accommodate up to twenty 23 metre vehicles simultaneously and includes fuelling, CET (Controlled Emission Toilet) and water tanking. LNWR Crewe is now one of the busiest passenger train servicing locations and the largest independent provider of train servicing in the UK. The number of passenger trains delivered into service each morning frequently exceeds 24. Fleets supported at Crewe include Voyagers, Desiros, Sprinters and loco hauled stock. The completion of the works was marked by a visit from David Martin, Chief Exec, Arriva plc and Bob Holland, MD Arriva UK Trains, who inspected the new facility and took a ride on a Voyager through the new Carriage Wash. The development comes only months after Arriva completed the purchase of LNWR. LNWR Managing Director, Mark Knowles, was delighted that a significant milestone in the development of the Company had been reached. “Crewe is a key location for railway services in the western half of the UK. Our customers have told us that they see Crewe as a long term base and that has given us the confidence to invest to meet their needs. We have never had a higher level of maintenance activities at Crewe, each period sees a record for services delivered to our customers. This new capability means we are the best equipped train maintenance facility in the region.”