Mechan to make trio of express deliveries

1st July 2014

Rail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, has secured a hat trick of contracts to support the Department of Transport's flagship Intercity Express Programme (IEP).

The Sheffield manufacturer is supplying lifting and handling products to three sites that are integral to improvements on the Great Western and East Coast main lines. Working with main contractor, VolkerFitzpatrick, Mechan has installed a set of 40 lifting jacks and a bogie drop with two bridges at the North Pole depot in west London, which is being readied for the introduction of high speed electric trains. The firm is currently developing a further two standard equipment drops for delivery in March to the new Stoke Gifford depot near Bristol. Most recently, Mechan's managing director, Richard Carr, travelled to Hitachi Rail Europe's Newton Aycliffe facility to put pen to paper on a contract for two traversers. The County Durham-based factory is building high speed trains for the IEP and will be using the machines one inside and one outside to move the vehicles between roads. Both will be installed in spring next year. Darren Cumner, manufacturing plant manager for Hitachi Rail Europe, said: -We conducted an extensive and competitive tendering process for these two traversers, given their importance to production. This process reaffirmed we were already working with a partner who can match our expectations on quality and reliability. Richard Carr added: -Being accepted as a preferred supplier for the IEP is a huge boost to our order book and we are very pleased Hitachi and VolkerFitzpatrick have chosen to install equipment made in the UK at these key facilities. We have excellent working relationships with both clients as they recognise the value our products represent. For more information about Mechan's range of rail depot maintenance and handling equipment, telephone (0114) 257 0563 or visit www.mechan.co.uk