New Generation Road Rail MEWPs (Type D) Vehicles 2 - 4 – Western Route

A competitive tender process was undertaken in 2021 to procure a First of Type (FOT) next-generation Road Rail Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP) designed specifically to meet the requirements of the newly electrified Western Route. Following this competition, Fitzgerald Plant Services was awarded the contract and has since worked collaboratively with Network Rail to develop and refine the vehicle to meet the unique operational and safety requirements associated with maintaining Overhead Line Equipment (OLE).

The resulting vehicle incorporates bespoke design features and enhanced capabilities beyond those of a standard MEWP, enabling the safe and efficient undertaking of OLE inspection, maintenance and repair activities. Extensive development, testing and validation have been completed, culminating in the vehicle receiving its Engineering Compliance Certificate and demonstrating its suitability for operational use on the route.

Network Rail now requires the purchase of an additional three vehicles to support maintenance activities across the Western Route. These vehicles will be based on the proven FOT design, ensuring full operational compatibility, consistency in maintenance practices, commonality of spare parts, and standardisation of training requirements for operators and maintainers. Procuring additional vehicles from an alternative supplier would require significant redesign, engineering assurance, testing and approval activities to demonstrate compliance with Network Rail's operational requirements, resulting in increased costs, programme delays and additional technical risk.

As Fitzgerald Plant Services is the original developer and supplier of the compliant FOT vehicle, and the required units are a direct replication of the established design, the procurement can only be effectively delivered through this supplier. Awarding the contract to Fitzgerald Plant Services will ensure continuity of service, maintain standardisation across the fleet, minimise operational and safety risks, and provide best value by leveraging the significant investment already made in the development, testing and approval of the existing solution.