Arriva TrainCare (formerly London & North Western Railway (LNWR)[2]) is a railway rolling stock maintenance company. It is presently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arriva UK Trains.
 | |
| Founded | 1993[1] |
|---|---|
| Founder | Pete Waterman[1] |
| Headquarters | , England |
Number of locations | 5 |
| Services | Railway rolling stock maintenance |
| Parent | Arriva UK Trains |
| Website | www.arrivatc.com |
It was established as LNWR by Pete Waterman during 1993; in under a decade, it had become the largest privately-owned provider of rail maintenance services in the UK. It started providing maintenance services to various train operating companies in 1999. Its initial facility was in Crewe, a second maintenance depot in Leeds was launched in 2004. Multiple locations, such as Bristol, Cambridge, Eastleigh, and Newcastle, were integrated into the business during the early 2010s.
In November 2008, Arriva UK Trains acquired LNWR, after which it was reorganised. It became the default servicing agent for the rolling stock of Arriva UK Trains' various subsidiaries. The company has also carried out extensive overhauls on operator's whole fleets, as well as the restoration of several heritage locomotives. Arriva TrainCare has sought to achieve a high standard of working practice and to improve conditions for its employees and various stakeholders.
History
editThe company was founded in 1993 as London & North Western Railway (LNWR) by the British record producer Pete Waterman to provide maintenance for locomotives and rolling stock for specialist and charter operators from premises in Crewe.[1] During 1999, it began maintaining rolling stock for various train operating companies (TOCs).[3] By 2002, NNWR had reportedly became the largest privately-owned provider of rail maintenance services in the UK.[4]
In 2004, a facility in Leeds was opened to service Freightliner Class 66 diesel locomotives; this depot was subsequently sold to Freightliner.[5]
In November 2008, LNWR was acquired by Arriva UK Trains in exchange for £2.4 million.[6][7][8] Waterman remained with the company as its chairman for numerous years following the acquisition.[9]
In 2011, amid a restructuring of DB Schenker, a sister to Arriva company, several facilities in Bristol, Cambridge, Eastleigh, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne were integrated into LNWR.[10][11]
During May 2017, members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) trade union voted in favour of industrial action in response to a recent pay offer by Arriva TrainCare.[12]
In addition to the servicing of trains for Arriva UK Trains' subsidiaries, the company services various forms of rolling stock for other companies, such as Bombardier Transportation (CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast Class 220/221 Voyagers), Freightliner (Class 86s and 90s) and Siemens (West Midlands Trains Class 350s). It also conducts heavy overhauls on rolling stock,[13][14][15] and extensive restorations of heritage locomotives.[16][17] It routinely handles various forms of waste, including asbestos, scrap metal, electronic waste, various oils, and hazardous/confidential materials, yet Arriva TrainCare has reportedly achieved a recycling rate of 99.68 percenter overall, having engaged with specialist waste services to handle all materials in a fully compliant manner.[18][19]
References
edit- ^ a b c McCallion, Ruari (4 September 2015). "Pete Waterman: cutting a new track". themanufacturer.com.
- ^ "London & North Western Railway Company Limited: company no 2880012". Companies House. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "LNWR History". LNWR. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ Waterman, Pete (14 January 2002). "If I ran the railway". The Guardian.
- ^ "Freightliner launches new subsidiary". Logistics Manager. 5 April 2006. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014.
- ^ Barber, Marc (19 November 2008). "Arriva closes LNWR train maintenance deal". growthbusiness.co.uk.
- ^ "Arriva acquires LNWR". Railway Gazette International. 18 November 2008.
- ^ "Pop guru Pete Waterman sells rail firm to settle debt". The Sentinel. 24 November 2008.
- ^ Waterman, Pete (12 April 2012). "Believe it or not, this IS the golden age of the railway, says Pete Waterman". Evening Standard.
- ^ "Depot integration puts Arriva's LNWR on track for future growth". Global Rail News. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014.
- ^ "Locations in the UK". LNWR. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "Train maintenance workers to strike over pay". BBC News. 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Ambitious makeover will create best Class 158s in the UK". Arriva Trains Wales. Aspect. Spring 2011.
- ^ "Transport for Wales fleet refurb arrives on time and under budget". nation.cymru. 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Grand Central completes £9m fleet refurbishment". Railway Gazette International. 11 December 2019.
- ^ "NG/G16 Garratt No.109 purchased for service on Welsh Highland Railway by Peter Waterman Trust". festrail.co.uk. 2009.
- ^ Wilcock, Dennis (19 August 2015). "No.78018 is re-united with its boiler". Grand Central Railway.
- ^ "Arriva TrainCare on the recycling track to net zero". enva.com. 15 June 2023.
- ^ "Case study: vehicle preparation and safety procedures improved". ciras.org.uk. 5 August 2019.