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Company History
Knights Rail Services Ltd is a privately owned company formed in 2001 to service the requirements of the railway rolling stock industry. Our aim was to provide a personalised but professional service to the rail industry, using our extensive experience gained in the rail, defence and environmental sectors.
One of our earliest projects saw a Joint Venture with Serco to develop the UK's first bespoke train decontamination facility at the MOD site at Shoeburyness in Essex. This commenced operations in 2002 and processed over 1000 vehicles in 8 years of operation.
Our success at Shoeburyness saw other innovative projects come along including the design, construction and operation of the award winning HSBC Carriage Roll Over Rig, a full scale railway carriage that could be rolled onto its side to test train evacuation techniques. We were also behind a contract to develop a process for corrosion repairs and abatement for the Networker EMU fleet owned by HSBC Rail. This led to a full repair and re-livery programme undertaken between 2005 and 2007 at Stewarts Lane depot.
A significant milestone was reached in April 2005 when we purchased Serco's share of the train decontamination Joint Venture. This reinforced our growing status as a key supplier to the rail industry. We continued to develop our range of services to include component recovery and warehousing, alongside more asbestos services including surveys and management consultancy.
The Eastleigh Works Era
When our Managing Director ran the railway at MOD Shoeburyness back in the 1990s, he recognised the need for a site that combined storage, maintenance and disposal services for rolling stock. As the maintenance that could be carried out at Shoeburyness was always limited, the chance in 2006 to occupy the tracks at the famous Eastleigh Works in Hampshire was not to be missed.
From that small start we expanded our operation into the former Works Building, recently closed by Alstom. This vast workshop had been equipped to build some of the largest British steam engines of the 20th Century including the famous Bulleid Pacifics. Although much of the equipment had been sold off by Alstom, within weeks the massive overhead cranes were operational and the electrified third rail system was energised, allowing electric trains to enter the works once again. The site, once destined for demolition is now used by a variety of our customers to service, overhaul and maintain rail vehicles of all types. The industry really began to notice in September 2007 when a press day was held to name two class 47 locomotives owned by Colas Rail. These had been rebuilt by Arlington Fleet Services, the first locos to be overhauled at the Works since the 1980s.
Away from site we acquired a small fleet of ex MOD shunters in 2008 that were overhauled at the Works before being hired to GBRf to haul works trains on the East London Line renovation project.
Since then the Works has continued to develop with new facilities and prestigious projects being undertaken. A modern paint facility has been installed, replacing one shut by Alstom whilst new tracks have been laid in the Works to give access to more workshop buildings. A fuel point was installed in 2008 allowing the site to stable trains on a regular basis.
A key event in the Works history was celebrated in May 2009 with a centenary event held on three days over the May Bank Holiday weekend. This was attended by over 19,000 visitors who came to see the 50 historic locomotives and coaches brought to the site from all over the country. Live peak hour broadcasts from ITV and BBC established the Works back in the consciousness of the local people and the rail industry, and whilst principally designed as a celebration of the Works still being in business, Knights Rail Services was able to hand over a cheque for £30,000 to three charities, with another £20,000 raised by other groups at the event.
Since then the works has continued to grow and develop. A milestone was reached in late 2009 when EMU overhauls returned to the Works after a gap of 3 years. Siemens now undertakes repairs and maintenance on its 444 and 450 fleets in the former lifting shop, having installed synchronised lifting jacks capable of raising a 5 car unit simultaneously at the press of a button. Investment in new tracks and inspection pits in the former Van Shop has allowed that area to be brought into use as a heavy repair shop and licenced facility for train decontamination. This allowed us to vacate the Shoeburyness site that we had started on back in 2001.
In 2010 the Works is home to a diverse range of operations. In Bay 2 a fleet of MPVs are operated on behalf of Network Rail on railhead treatment duties. The adjacent Bay 3 is home to Arlington Fleet’s overhaul and repair business, whilst Bay 4 is used by Siemens for EMU overhauls. The Van Shop handles loco repairs and train decontamination as well as component recovery and storage operations. The yard area is filled with vehicles in store and train stabling operations.
From small beginnings as a consultancy in 2001, Knights Rail Services has grown to be a well known name in the railway rolling stock industry with the largest rail engineering Works in the south of England under its control. Our guiding principle remains the solving of problems by a flexible and proactive approach to our customers. When other people say things are too difficult or can’t be done, we find ways to prove them wrong. As we have demonstrated at Eastleigh Works, we don’t write off old ideas as being necessarily outmoded, but neither do we reject new ways of doing things. We work hand in glove with your engineers and managers to find the way to do a job that solves your problems.
For more details about Knights Rail Services, please contact us.