UK lift experts, Stannah, are celebrating a double win within the rail sector that truly demonstrates their growing reputation for delivering outstanding service.
The first ‘win’ is a renewed 10-year contract with Network Rail to continue to maintain its lift portfolio right across the GB rail network, won after a highly competitive tender process.
Stannah first won the maintenance contract in 1995, successfully extending for a further 10 years in 2004. The new contract runs through to 2024 and has an estimated value of £35M+.
The number of units for maintenance, currently around 950 lifts, is forecast to grow significantly within the contract period. This increase reflects the huge investment being made by Network Rail as it continues to modernise/upgrade its stations.
The drive to improve the customer experience includes the ongoing addition of new lifts across the network, in order to achieve step-free access for all rail travellers.
The second ‘win’ is a comprehensive programme of lift modernisation for Docklands Light Railway (DLR), part of Transport for London. This contract will see the replacement of 20 existing lift cars with brand new, energy-saving equipment to DLR’s latest specification and 29 replacements of lift doors on landings and lift cars. The whole program of works is over 18 months with a value of £675K.
Jon Stannah, Joint Managing Director of Stannah Lift Services, explains: "Our work within the rail sector has grown significantly in the last ten years. Our renewed contract with Network Rail and a further contract with DLR will mean our engineers will be working day and night, in order to prevent downtime for the thousands of railway travellers across the network every day."
Network Rail work is undertaken via the Stannah nationwide network of eleven local service branches from which more than 360 highly-trained lift engineers provide local service.
The whole contract is managed centrally by a dedicated rail department that meets regularly with Network Rail managers and key decision makers within routes and Train Operating Companies. Within the new contract, Stannah lift engineers will be required to carry out more of the work overnight, minimising the potential for lift maintenance to disrupt rail travellers at peak times.
Stannah is a wholly independent family company, established in 1867. The company has grown its business in the UK rail sector by delivering the highly-valued brand promise at the heart of their organisation, to be ‘always true to our word’.