Angel Trains

Platinum sponsor

Angel Trains is proud of its strong relationships with all nineteen franchised Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and both open access operators.

We are committed to our role of providing vital investment to rolling stock on the UK Network.  Since privatisation we have invested around £3.5 billion in the UK rail sector, making us one of the largest investors in the industry.  We manage assets across every stage of the life cycle, with a number of trains in production following recent purchase and others undertaking continued service operation works to ensure they are both safe and suitable for the demands of the future.
 
Angel Trains invests on average £80 million per annum in fleet maintenance and refurbishment, indirectly supporting employment of approximately 2,500 people in UK maintenance depots.
 
Our workforce consists of over 100 individuals who are specialists in many aspects of train leasing, from finance and engineering to commercial and customer service.  From our offices in London and Derby, Angel Trains provides expertise in the procurement of maintenance for our leased trains and know-how on the purchase of new rolling stock.  In addition to our own resources we have a network of suppliers and contractors, from large companies through to specialist SMEs.
 
Angel Trains looks forward to continuing to work with its customers and suppliers for the benefit of passengers and the continued success of the UK rail industry.

Siemens

Platinum sponsor

Siemens provides comprehensive expertise and technology in the full range of rail vehicles – from heavy rail to metros and from trams to light-rail vehicles. We employ 750 people in rolling stock and maintenance alone and maintain over 370 Siemens passenger trains which cover over 60 million miles a year.

We maintain the trains on behalf of our customers, which include South West Trains, First TransPennine Express, Heathrow Express, Greater Anglia, Northern Rail, London Midland and ScotRail. Our highly skilled teams are based at some of the most advanced depots in the UK and at customer owned facilities. They carry out maintenance 24 hours a day for 364 days of the year, only closing on Christmas Day.

We have recently undertaken some high profile projects and will be delivering 17 Velaro e320 vehicles to Eurostar International Limited. In 2013, Siemens Rail Systems was officially awarded the Thameslink contract, which involves delivering 1,140 new Desiro City carriages and constructing two new depots. This second-generation train combines the latest technology with the proven Siemens Desiro platform, one of the most reliable train designs in the UK.

In partnership with NSARE (National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering), Siemens is investing in a state-of-the-art training academy, NTAR, which will keep the UK at the forefront of Railway Engineering

Kier Group

Gold sponsor

Delivering rail solutions for the 21st Century

Kier are delighted to be Gold sponsors of the National Rail Awards in 2018.

With over 70 years’ experience of delivering rail projects, large and small, we are immensely proud of the part we have played in helping to build and maintain our railway.

Our multidisciplinary teams provide a range of technical expertise to ensure the right solution and value for money are achieved. Combined with an industry leading safety record, we strive to meet today’s industry challenges whilst investing to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

These centre on our specialisms of:

• Signalling - Our specialists provide a full service from design to commissioning. Within Network Rail we are recognised experts in Relay Route Interlockings, Solid State Interlockings including CBI data design; and all types of mechanical interlockings (locking design and independent checking).
• Power – Our expert electrical teams design and implement structural power and electrification upgrades and restoration projects on a huge scale across the rail network.
• Tunnelling – We have delivered many projects where our expertise in tunnelling has been key. Our teams have faced significant engineering challenges, but through collaboration and innovation, have gone on to deliver outstanding solutions, safely and within time and budget constraints.
• Asset Management - Restoring and revitalising historic railway structures has long been a specialism of Kier’s. Through assessing, repairing and strengthening we have breathed new life into many assets across the UK rail network.
• Our strategy for a sustainable business - our corporate responsibility strategy addresses the positive social and environmental value we create every day through the projects we complete. This is what we call the ‘Kier effect’.
• Community Engagement - We enrich communities by providing jobs, interacting with schools, supporting local well-being and contributing to charities and voluntary organisations.

Encouraging new people into the industry is vital to Kier as a major contractor. We are thrilled that apprentices and graduates make up 6% of our workforce and that we have exceeded our 5% pledge to engage these groups in our training programmes to integrate them into our growing business.

Looking further ahead we are seeking to engage with Generation Z (11-15 year olds) helping them through our ‘Shaping your world’ campaign to consider the breadth of career opportunities within the construction industry. Kier is taking action to address the skills shortage and ensure our vibrant industry can provide innovative solutions well into the 21st century.

Colas

Silver sponsor

Colas Rail is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of railway infrastructure services. We are award-winning specialists having designed, constructed and maintained all forms of railway systems across Europe and the UK. We operate an ever expanding portfolio of rail freight and on track machine services throughout the UK and France and have developed metro and tram schemes in over 50 cities around the world in Europe, Asia, Africa and America.  
We specialise in:

• High Speed Lines
• Light /Metro Lines
• Freight Operator
• Track Laying, Renewal and Maintenance
• Operation and Maintenance of On Track Plant
• High Voltage and Traction Power
• Electrification & Signalling
• Rolling Stock Refurbishment & Maintenance
• Tramways
• Multidisciplinary Projects
• Engineering
• Design & Surveying

Control & Communication systems

We operate under three main business functions:
1.   Rail Infrastructure
2.   Rail Services
3.   Urban Rail

We look outwards to our customers, working collaboratively and sharing best practice. We respect their views, respond to their suggestions and are proactive in anticipating their needs. We are also committed to delivering on our promise, to our employees, the people we work with, our customers and our stakeholders.

British Steel

Silver sponsor

British Steel is a world leader in the production of long steel products - producing around 3 million tonnes of them every year. We have manufacturing facilities across the UK and France, supplying premium products around the world. We also have a global network of regional sales teams, so our global customers receive a local service.

The new British Steel was created when Greybull Capital bought the Long Products Europe business of Tata Steel. It’s a new start for us and is based on 150 years of heritage. But we’re not stuck in the past, we’re looking to the future. We’re moving forwards with a more streamlined organisation, more efficient processes and a more responsive approach.

Our wide range of proven high performance rail products and technical services is helping to build stronger futures for global high speed, heavy duty, mixed traffic, metro and tramway networks. Together we're helping the industry succeed in rising to the challenges of higher traffic volumes, heavier axle loads and faster train speeds.

Our commitment to technological innovation allows us to offer total customer solutions built on our core strengths of metallurgy and manufacturing excellence.  In addition, our expertise in research and development is well recognised in the rail industry.

Burges Salmon

Bronze sponsor

Burges Salmon is uniquely placed to provide the highest standard of rail sector legal advice, having played a leading role in the rail industry for over 20 years. Our nationally acclaimed Rail Group, part of our transport practice, is the largest of its type in the UK and is widely respected for providing quick, clear and pragmatic advice founded on a multi-dimensional understanding of the rail industry, its contracting and regulatory framework and its customs and practices.

With expert knowledge of the sector, we understand its history and evolution, while continuing to participate in its current and future developments. To achieve the best outcomes for our clients, we adopt a collaborative approach, building a team of lawyers with disciplines tailored to each client’s needs.

We advise internationally and throughout the UK with rail lawyers qualified in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and experience of bringing learning from the UK rail industry to projects and franchises worldwide.

Morson

Bronze sponsor

Morson are celebrating their 50th year as a leading global recruiter. Ranked as the 3rd largest recruitment company in the world (SIA report 2018) and the UK’s No.1 Rail Recruiter (Recruitment International), we have connected the right candidates with the right opportunities on some of the world’s biggest projects. Specialising in the supply of technical engineers and support operatives in the UK and overseas, we are skilled in creating bespoke recruitment solutions for our clients.

We are dedicated to improving diversity within the industries we work. As the only recruiter to commit to a target for increasing the number of female contractors that they employ we are using our own business as a sounding board to perfect our diversity initiatives and challenge stereotypes, so these can be rolled out to our clients to develop cultures that embrace change and ultimately outperform their peers. Through strong mental health and accessibility initiatives we are actively committed to improving the lives of our internal workforce and wider contractor base.

VTG RAIL

Bronze sponsor

VTG Rail UK Ltd is an award-winning organisation, pioneering innovative design, leading research and the development of industry standards for rail freight rolling stock. As part of VTG AG, Europe’s leading wagon hire and rail logistics company, it has substantial experience and resources underpinning its UK operations.

VTG’s UK fleet of almost 3,000 wagons comprises a bulk sector for dry and solid products, a tank sector for petroleum and chemical products plus an intermodal sector covering a comprehensive range of container platforms including the award winning Ecofret, and Megafret platforms suitable for International traffic via the Channel Tunnel.

New wagons are added regularly as part of a continuous replenishment process, being chosen to meet emerging market demands, as well as specific customer requirements. In addition to VTG’s ground breaking Ecofret wagon, which provides substantial economic benefits for maritime intermodal traffic by eliminating costly wasted space, VTG pioneered the introduction of aluminium bodied cement wagons giving a payload advantage of 5 tonnes compared to steel alternatives. Following its development of the first wagon fleet for the large-scale movement of biomass by rail, VTG has recently received a number of industry awards for “re-purposing” redundant wagons in response to the downturn in the ESI coal market. As a consequence VTG is now able to offer a variety of “repurposed” coal hopper wagons in a form optimised for the movement of aggregates.

As well as supplying purpose built or modified vehicles to meet customer requirements under flexible leasing arrangements, VTG is also an accredited “Entity in Charge of Maintenance”, and acts as both Keeper and ECM for all of the wagons in its fleet, ensuring full regulatory compliance. With additional offerings including purchase and leaseback, and a bespoke wagon management package for private wagon owners, VTG remains your number one choice.

DB- ESG Rail

Bronze sponsor

ESG Rail, part of Deutsche Bahn (DB), plays a significant role in the development of the UK’s rolling stock, offering innovative and value-led strategic advice, technical consultancy and technology integration. We have a wealth of experience, not only in the design and development of new rail technologies themselves, but also in the integration and investigation of vehicle enhancements. We have developed solutions for incorporating new technologies onto existing train fleets (air conditioning, CCTV, passenger information and driver advisory systems, together with coupler technologies and bogie improvements). We have experience working, not only with the train operators and owners, but vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers. At ESG Rail we have an experienced team of proven railway design, mechanical and electrical systems engineers, project managers and strategic consultants that are ready to address all industry challenges.

In May 2017, ESG Rail also became the UK route to market for the DB rail engineering companies; DB Systemtechnik and DB Engineering & Consulting. We have expanded our portfolio in the UK, to introduce some exciting new innovations and services from our sister organisations, including new leading edge expertise in railway infrastructure, mobility and transport. We have an office based in Derby, home to the largest cluster of railway companies in the world.

West Midlands Trains

Bronze sponsor

West Midlands Trains took over the running of the West Midlands rail franchise from 10 December 2017 and will continue until 2025/6. The business is a partnership between Abellio, East Japan Railway Company and Mitsui & Co. Ltd.  Over the life of the franchise £1 billion will be invested in new trains, improved stations, and new routes/better connections to create more journey opportunities for our customers.

The business operates as two brands: London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway.

West Midlands Railway operates local and regional services across the west midlands travel-to-work area with Birmingham at the heart of the network.

London Northwestern Railway operates commuter and longer distance services between London Euston, Milton Keynes Central, Northampton and Birmingham as well as Birmingham to Liverpool. The Abbey Line and Marston Vale routes are important parts of the LNR network.  

SYSTRA

Bronze sponsor

SYSTRA’s specialist rail expertise enables us to constantly re-invent, adapt and re-imagine transport solutions to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Our understanding of the asset and how to efficiently, cost-effectively maintain it – acquired through decades of specialist experience – informs our engineering design. Our specialist knowledge of design, integration and operation enables our clients to minimise disruption to passengers, reduce operating costs and experience greater efficiencies.

SYSTRA keeps the world moving through connecting people and places. By enabling mobility, our work strengthens communities, increases social inclusion and improves people’s access to employment, education and leisure opportunities. We deliver engineering, consultancy and specialist technical services that enable safe, efficient mobility and foster economic prosperity.

Every day, more than 50 million people travel using transport systems designed by SYSTRA. A recognised world leader in mobility and mass transit, SYSTRA employs 6,200 people and has an operational presence in 80 countries. Engineering News-Record ranks SYSTRA in the top three mass transit and rail international design firms and among the 50 largest engineering firms in the world.”

British Transport Police

Bronze sponsor

Transport Focus

Bronze sponsor