Network Rail narrows down RHTT operators from five to two

Network Rail has awarded a new five-year contract for its autumn and winter treatment trains to GB Railfreight and Colas.

The £850 million contract starts on August 4 and covers weedkilling, leaf-blasting, anti-ice and snow ploughing trains.

In the new deal, six re-engineered MPVs will be introduced, redesigned from overhead line use to seasonal vehicles. GBRf and Balfour Beatty will operate those in the north and south respectively.

GBRf and Colas will be responsible for locomotive-hauled Railhead Treatment Trains (RHTT), with the former looking after snow and ice treatment trains and Colas responsible for snow clearance services.

The new five-year contract also includes optional three-yearly extensions.

During the most recent arrangement, which expires on August 3, RHTT work has been split between Colas, DB Cargo UK, DRS, Freightliner and GBRf.

The announcement comes after DB Cargo UK’s CEO Andrea Rossi told his staff on March 31 that the operator had not been successful in keeping the work.

“We are seeking clarification from Network Rail as to why our bid was unsuccessful, as we believe it accurately reflected the costs, risks and liabilities associated with the delivery of the contract,” he said.

“Since we took on the current contract in 2019, we have constantly achieved and outperformed our targets and went above and beyond during the Covid-19 pandemic to find a workable solution to the challenges presented by social distancing.”

He added that managers would “now need to consider the implications for our business”.