ASKED QUESTIONS
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© Knights Rail Services Limited |
Who owns Eastleigh Works?
Along with other Alstom sites in the UK, the Works was sold in 2002 to St Modwen, a property development company. All of the railway lines and rail served buildings are leased to Knights Rail Services Ltd, who in turn allow rail companies access to the facilities the Works can offer.
What is special about Eastleigh Works?
The Works was the last built of the great railway Works built in Britain and is one of very few to remain in railway use. Unlike the others it is not operated by one of the big train manufacturers but is available for use by any rail company. The infrastructure allows trains of up to 250 metres to be handled and has a 3rd rail electric traction supply. The cranes on site can lift up to 100 tons and the longest inspection pit is 120 metres long.
How big is the site?
The site is some 44 acres in size although not all of this remains in railway use. The main Works building is 250 yards long by 120 yards wide.
How do trains access the site?
The site is connected to the national network via a spur from the South West mainline to Southampton. Eastleigh is at a junction of four lines leading to Southampton, Romsey, London and Fareham.
What are Open Access engineering facilities?
This means that the facilities can be made available for use by anybody wishing to undertake commercial rail activities. This can vary from overnight stabling or short term access to a pit for vehicle inspection, to long term leasing of the facilities for a programme of fleet overhauls.
I’m interested in using part of the Works for non railway purposes. Who do I talk to?
Knights Rail Services has exclusive use of the rail facilities on site. All non railway inquiries should be addressed to St Modwen via their website at; http://www.eastleigh-works.co.uk/
What is the relationship between Knights Rail Services and Arlington Fleet Services?
Knights Rail Services leases and operates the site and Arlington Fleet Services are our Tenant. Arlington are rolling stock engineers whereas Knights Rail provides storage, stabling and access to the facilities. However our activities overlap in many areas and we often team up to provide a turn key service to customers. Both companies benefit from the activities of the other on site and both have been key to the renaissance of the Works since 2006.
Can anybody use Eastleigh Works?
We are happy to take money from anybody! However the potential user has to satisfy us that their activities are compatible with the safe and commercial operation of the Works and the other companies on site.
What is the long term future for the Works?
The Works features in the Local Authority Plan and has demonstrated its viability as a commercial operation. However parts of the site have development potential and the operation of the Works will have to fit in around any such developments in future. The best way for us to do this is to continue to grow our business and pay commercial rent to our Landlords.
What types of vehicles have received attention at the Works since it reopened in 2006?
BR locos, Classes; 07, 08, 20, 31, 33, 37, 47, 50, 52, 57, 59, 66, 73
Multiple units, Classes; 108, 143, 153, 158, 159, 306, 421, 423, 442, 444, 450, 489, 508
Coaching Stock; Mk 1, 2 and 3 and variants
Steam loco types; Britannia, Battle of Britain, Merchant Navy, King Arthur, Black Five, Schools
How much does it cost to remove asbestos from a railway vehicle?
How long is a piece of string? The cost of asbestos removal is driven by the need to remove the asbestos without causing fibre release, both to the outside environment and within the structure containing the asbestos. Different types of asbestos give rise to more fibres than others, whilst the material that the asbestos is contained within also has a fundamental effect on this. The cheapest job we have ever done was around £1000 whilst the most expensive rail vehicle was over £60,000.
We used to deal with asbestos every day for BR in the 1970s. Why is there so much fuss about it now?
We now know much more about the health risk associated with asbestos and it has been banned for use for several decades now. At the same time the legislation covering asbestos removal has been tightened up almost year on year as our understanding of the materiel has grown. For example, the old dry stripping method or disposal by the 'Tunnel of Fire' is most definitely illegal now. Asbestos is a class 1 carcinogen and has the very strong potential to kill if the fibres are inhaled.
Why is asbestos so expensive to remove?
Each time the legislation is updated the permissible fibre limits within the removal enclosure are reduced. Knights Rail is fully supportive of this but it does mean that methods of removal that might have been acceptable in the 1980 or 1990s are now prohibited. The industry works under much tighter controls than ever and these mean that asbestos removal is a slow and painstaking job. Also the number of companies undertaking the work has reduced as less competent firms have had their licences revoked. Waste disposal charges have trebled over the past 5 years and insurance premiums are sky high, especially when combined with the rail industry.
I have a coach that has asbestos in it. What should I do?
Don’t panic! The important thing is to manage the risk and this may mean leaving the asbestos where it is. However rail vehicles are not strong structures. Metal ones just love to rust away and wooden ones decay at a frightening rate. We can provide advice on the best way to manage the asbestos in your vehicle if you get in contact with us.
However you should remember that the asbestos in your vehicle is your responsibility to manage safely and just hoping it will go away never works. Rust never sleeps!
How can I find out what is going on in the Works?
The news section of this website is a good place to start. Our Works Photographer’s regularly updated pictures can be found on his site at www.carlswatson.com/trains.html and there is also an Eastleigh Works Blog at eastleighworks.blogspot.com/
Is the Works “preserved” ?
Absolutely not. The Works is a business that has to pay its way in a harsh commercial environment. Whilst we appreciate the historic nature of the site and the buildings, the best way to ensure its continued existence is to grow and adapt to the 21st century rail industry in all its guises.
Can I visit the Works?
The Works has no facilities for casual visitors and people arriving at the gate asking to look around will be turned away. We are planning to run a series of organised tours starting in 2011. For more details of this please go to our Visiting page.
Can I get a job at the Works?
We do have vacancies in all types of rail vehicle work from time to time. In the first instance please send your CV to us via the contact page.
How many people are employed at the Works?
This varies according the work being undertaken at any one time. As a general rule of thumb there are between 50 and 150 people on the site involved in railway work.
I am thinking of buying a train. Can I store it at the Works?
We generally don’t encourage preservationists to store vehicles at our site. This is because we can only charge commercial rates for storage and the nature of the activities on site means that we can only accept volunteer access under exceptional circumstances. However we are prepared to discuss storage with any party, but only on a fully commercial basis.
Does the Works employ volunteers?
No, all staff are paid employees of one or other of the companies on site.
What are the operating hours of the Works ?
The core hours are 0800 – 1700 Monday to Friday, but parts of the site operate much longer hours than this and also at weekends. At certain times of the year the site is open 24 hours a day. We can accept inward or outward rail traffic at anytime with prior notification.