TRS provides operated and non-operated road-rail plant, sub-contracting services and labour provision to rail sites across the UK.
Working with leading contractors including Balfour Beatty, AMCOGiffen, Lundy Projects, Siemens, Bam Nuttal and Alun Griffiths, we’ve supported some of the most prestigious Network Rail and London Underground projects. We have the technical capabilities and fleet to service a wide range of projects, such as Overhead Line Equipment (OLE), Permanent Way and Civils work.
From supplying road-rail plant and POS services for a single shift rail maintenance job, to providing end-to-end project management for complex long-term upgrades – we have the equipment, manpower and expertise to ensure your project is a success.
Our business is built on three operational enablers which help us stay flexible, cost efficient and safe in everything we do.
The right rail plant
We own over 80 road rail vehicles and a broad range of attachments – all of which are Any Lines Open (ALO) and RIS-1530-PLT compliant. Each year we continue to invest in our rail plant and attachments, listening to the needs of our customers and finding innovative ways to meet them. As a result, 80% of our fleet is less than three years old.
The best people
Our 300 strong workforce includes, POS Supervisors, Crane Controllers, Machine Controllers, Plant Operatives and contingent labour, and is led by an experienced management team. We believe in training and up-skilling our workforce to ensure they have the competencies and know-how for every job they undertake. It’s no coincidence that we have one of the highest retention rates in the industry.
The safest processes
From investing in the design of new equipment, to operating it on track – health and safety is our top priority. As a part of our behavioural safety strategy ‘Destination Total Safety’, we constantly look out for the health, safety and welfare of our people, and our customers.
We hold a wealth of accreditations including BS EN ISO 9001, BS EN ISO 14001 and BS EN ISO 45001.
As a leader in road-rail plant hire, POS and sub-contracting services, four values underpin our business:
Long-term relationships
We share our clients’ objectives, responsibilities and, ultimately, their successes. We work closely with our customers, building relationships based on honesty and integrity. It’s therefore no surprise that our customers keep coming back.
Training
We believe that successful projects are delivered by competent and highly-skilled teams. We encourage our workforce to develop their competencies and knowledge to the best of their ability – and provide the resources to enable them to do so.
Destination Total Safety
We are one team with one vision for health and safety excellence: Destination Total Safety. Through collaboration, awareness and management leadership, we are committed to eliminating unsafe actions, minimising risks and ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for each other.
Flexibility
As we grow we aim to stay agile. From responding rapidly to 24/7 emergency projects, to our long-term commitment to developing innovative rail plant– we continually strive to understand and meet the rail industry’s changing needs.
Health and safety excellence is our goal. We’re on a journey to achieving our objectives of eliminating unsafe actions, minimising risks and ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for each other.
Destination Total Safety
Working on the UK’s railways demands a deep commitment to health and safety in order to protect the lives of our workforce, our customers and the public. Via our behavioral safety strategy – Destination Total Safety – TRS is constantly striving to achieve our goal of total safety at work.
We recognise that this is a journey and as one team we continue to focus on health and safety excellence – every day. We invest in our workforce, giving them the skills and mind-set to be safe in everything they do.
Our safety charter
Through collaboration, awareness and management leadership, we are committed to:
- Setting the highest health and safety standards and leading by example.
- Challenging unsafe acts.
- Reducing risks through proper planning and process execution.
- Communicating with each other, giving and accepting feedback and acting upon it.
Our accreditations
As part of Destination Total Safety we actively promote the Network Rail Lifesaving Rules and are members of the British Safety Council. In addition we hold an impressive list of RISQS approvals and a wealth of accreditations, including:
- BS EN ISO 9001 – for quality
- BS EN ISO 14001 – for the environment
- BS EN ISO 45001 – for health and safety
- FORS Silver membership – Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme
Formed in 2007, Total Rail Solutions started life as a consultancy business. By mid-2008 we set about becoming a leading road-rail plant hire company, focused on the operated rail plant market. This required three key operational enablers – the best people, the right on-track plant and the safest processes.
We quickly built a highly experienced management team, attracting leaders with strong and successful track records. Upon the award of our Plant Operations Scheme (POS) approval we invested heavily in our fleet of on track plant and attachments. We also set out to develop a culture based on ensuring safety and quality in every process we undertake.
Over the past 10 years TRS has supported construction and civil engineering contractors on some of the most prestigious UK rail infrastructure projects – from single shifts to three year schemes.
As one of the leading rail plant hire companies in the UK, our aim is to continue to drive sustainable growth year-on-year, whilst maintaining our ability to stay flexible, cost efficient and safe in everything we do.
Meet the team
Paul Bateman
Chief Executive Officer
Paul was appointed as Chief Operating Officer at the beginning of 2017 and became Chief Executive Officer in November 2018 as part of TRS’ management buy-out. Paul is responsible for providing the strategic direction of the business and ensuring efficient running of all operational activities. Paul comes from a commercial background, with a BSc Honours degree in quantity surveying and commercial management.
With 11 years’ experience in the rail sector, along with commercial experience in construction and civil engineering, Paul has previously held positions at director level. Paul has the natural ability to lead from the front providing direction for the long term vision of the business in line with it’s business strategy.
Steve Bodman
Rail Director
Steve was appointed as Rail Director in April 2022 having joined the company in January 2019 as Head of Operations. Steve forms part of the Senior Management Team within TRS. He has circa 20 years’ experience working in the Rail Sector and comes from a strong construction background.
Steve is responsible for overseeing all operational activities of the business through our Plant, POS, Resourcing and Minor Civils teams with the support of the heads of each department. Steve also has a focus on client management and business development ensuring that TRS supply a quality end to end service.
Steve works closely with the Senior Management Team to ensure all business objectives and future growth plans for the business are realised.
Steve Wadham
Head of Assurance
Steve joined the senior management team at Total Rail Solutions in 2009 and manages a dedicated team responsible for all health, safety, quality and environmental matters. Collectively their primary aim is the assurance of TRS’s compliance to legislation and industry standards, including all processes and systems for labour, plant and equipment.
With over 30 year’s rail sector experience, Steve’s professional qualifications include NEBOSH in Occupational Health & Safety, Tech IOSH and BM Trada International Auditor & Environmental Management.
Gareth Phillips
Head of Engineering
After serving in the armed forces for 17 years, Gareth left the military in 2001 and became the fourth generation of his family to work in the rail industry.
The experience of converting and manufacturing rail machines and working on a busy hire desk stood Gareth in good stead, as his career progressed through management and directorships within the rail plant sector.
Gareth, who joined TRS in March 2021 said, “When I met Paul, I was excited by the vision he has for the business and the direction he wants to take the team. I was hooked and absolutely delighted to come on board. I have a clear goal of making the engineering function more efficient and effective. I am already hard at work planning, recruiting and executing, so that TRS customers consistently receive the safest, compliant, reliable equipment and staff on every project”.
Andrew Hetzel
Chief Finance Officer (CFO)
A finance professional of some 25 years, Andrew brings a wealth of experience gained from the manufacturing, automotive, logistics and construction sectors.
With the business keen to improve its process and procedures, invest and innovative in new ways of delivering customer solutions, the need for an embedded, collaborative, finance support function is vital to ensure the business operates in the most effective and efficient manner.
Andrew who joined TRS in April 2021 said, “I recognised when discussing this career opportunity, that TRS had a core philosophy that placed customers at heart of everything it does. Our customers journey and experience defines who we are as a business. I look forward to building on the platform my predecessor developed. Ensuring the finance function is visible and accessible to the teams in the business is a critical and early strategic move. I believe this will become a key contributor to advancing the ambition of the business and executing the strategy that delivers value to customers, the business and our stakeholders”.
Mel Budworth
HR Manager
With 15 years’ experience of working with companies in both corporate organisations and SME businesses, Mel is a seasoned HR professional and practitioner.
With a restructured private equity owned model, TRS is well placed for its next period of development. With people as the key success factor, the culture of the business will be seen and experienced by customers and stakeholders at every point of contact.
Mel, who joined TRS in April 2021 said, “I seem to have a developed a relationship and preference for companies operating in ‘gritty’ environments. The opportunity here at TRS really excites me, there is so much to build upon. I am excited by the opportunity to develop our people, our culture and company values that will be recognised and build loyalty with our customers. I look forward to meeting our people and teams and to support them in becoming the best they can be”.