- SLC Operations Ltd has been granted a non-passenger train licence by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
- The new company aims to support the industry providing services including new train mileage accumulation, vehicle transfers and rail head treatment.
- Safety critical rail training and assessment will also be offered by a new distance learning training school – The Rail Academy.
An ambitious new train operator, SLC Operations Ltd, has announced that it has been granted a non-passenger train licence by the ORR having met its rigorous safety, standards and processes.
This means that the company can now operate trains across the national rail network and opens up new possibilities for the SLC group of companies.
SLC Operations has already secured contracts with Vivarail to accumulate mileage for the new Class 230s and to run seasonal rail head treatment trains in the West Midlands for Balfour Beatty.
Cath Bellamy, Managing Director of SLC Operations said: “In less than a year of starting this business, we have been granted an operator licence which is a huge achievement. The rail industry might be going through a shake-up right now, but we’re here to help by providing services to support and help it prosper.
“The success of SLC Operations has been down to our team of experienced railway people. I’m really proud of the hard work they have put into obtaining this licence and we’re all looking forward to making a difference to the industry we love.”
SLC Operations is part of a group of SLC businesses that provide a range of specialist rail infrastructure services including design, project management, investment and engineering.
Ian Walters, Managing Director of SLC Rail said: “This is an exciting time at SLC as we continue to explore new ways that we can support local authorities and the rail industry. Looking to the future, gaining this licence means that SLC is now about to do so much more for our clients. Not only can we help design plans, win support, secure investment and deliver new stations and lines, this licence means that we are a step closer to be able operate them too.”
SLC Operations Licence award comes just weeks after it achieved recognition as the UK’s first ever independent, ORR approved, Train Driver Training and Examination Provider and only the third UK registered provider of End Point Assessments for Train Driver Apprentices.
For more information about SLC Operations, visit www.slcoperations.com.