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Thursday 16 Aug 2018

Strategic new High Output warehouse set to make £1.6m in cost savings

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National

Network Rail High Output’s strategic rail fleet spares are moving to a central storage facility to improve asset reliability and operational logistics. This move will save around £1.6m through improved efficiency.

The spare parts – for the High Output ballast cleaning and track renewal system trains and the factories on top – are in the process of moving to the newly opened warehouse at Network Rail’s High Output Operations Base near Sandiacre, Nottingham.

High Output strategic spares were previously stored on the High Output fleet of specialist track maintenance machines and travelled with them around Britain.

Moving the spares to a central facility makes it easier for teams to locate the parts they need at the right time. Better storage conditions will also prevent spares needing to be scrapped or overhauled ready for use.

Simon McColgan, High Output plant business support manager in Network Rail’s Route Services function, said: “Each ballast cleaning system held its own set of strategic spares, so they were on sites across the country, sometimes for up to 10 years.

“This made it difficult to track down spares when they were needed. It also meant that many of the spares deteriorated over time and needed an overhaul, and many were no longer in a fit condition to be used on the plant.

“Looking after our assets by housing them in this specially built facility reduces costs and means we can find what we need much more quickly.”

Rob Morton, director of supply chain operations at Network Rail, said: “Our supply chain operations are transforming to become more reliable, predictable and higher performing.

“We’re breaking away from a ‘make do and mend’ ethos to push the boundaries of the industry, being more innovative and cost-effective in our service delivery to offer greater customer choice and deliver perfect performance on time, every time.”

ENDS

Notes to editor:

• To find out more about the High Output strategic rail fleet visit - https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/fleet-machines-vehicles/high-output/
• The Route Services function supplies Network Rail’s route businesses with critical services they decide are best provided from a national team. This includes IT services and equipment, supply and operation of Network Rail’s rail fleet, materials including rail and ballast, contract management and procurement, and shared services including finance, HR and training. Working as a single, service delivery directorate, Route Services allows Network Rail to benefit from economies of scale and greater efficiency from specialised delivery.