Full steam ahead for Rail Company

31st July 2012

A specialist rail company is nearing the end of its £2.5 million contract at Nottingham Railway Station – with further major projects in the pipeline.

The Aspin Group, which has offices across the backbone of the UK in Huthwaite, Preston and Hemel Hempstead, is made-up of Aspin Foundations Limited, Aspin Plant Limited and Aspin Consulting Limited.

The Rail division within Aspin Foundations specialises in the design and installation of foundations for trackside structures on the rail network and recently the company has been working with Network Rail to install foundations and gantries in the Nottingham Railway Station area.

The company, which is supported by Yorkshire Bank’s Financial Solutions Centre (FSC) in Derby, is now gearing up to work on electrification programmes with Great Western Railway between London Paddington and Cardiff as government funding is now secured.

Steve Lee, Finance Director at the Aspin Group, said they have worked with Network Rail through its principal contractors and plant operators licences.

“As with the rest of the industry, we experienced a difficult period when the government’s spending review put a number of rail projects on hold, but during that time Yorkshire Bank were very supportive and thankfully we have come through that and have continued to grow,” he said.

“One of the projects which has helped us is with Network Rail at Nottingham Railway Station.

“We are the contractors delivering key elements of the project, it has gone very well, and four of the five phases have been completed. We have installed the foundations and the gantries for the signalling system, and once this signalling system is in operation it will enhance and improve the reliability of journey times for passengers.

“We have invested in buying and importing a specialist road rail vehicle from Italy which with specialist attachments efficiently drives steel tubes into the ground and this is particularly useful for electrification programmes.

“With the confirmation of government funding for the Northern Hub, Midland Main Line and Great Western Electrification schemes, Aspin is committed to having the most efficient machines available to support delivery of the scheme.”

Dave Simpson, senior partner at Yorkshire Bank’s FSC in St Peter’s Street, said the Aspin Group was looking forward to the future with confidence.

“Yorkshire Bank’s ethos is centred on creating partnerships and that applies in good and bad times,” he said.

“The company has maintained a sensible approach, focusing on delivering value through a difficult period in the rail industry and it is now reaping the rewards – and expects turnover to continue to grow substantially this year.

“Aspin’s innovative approach has been instrumental in the impressive number of projects the Group has won and delivered.”