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| BUSINESS PROFILE
HS2 contributes to T&M growth Horsham’s T&M Bowser Solutions continues to grow its fleet of tankers in line with ongoing demand from its biggest contract – HS2
W
e hear a lot about the numbers associated with the landmark HS2 project, whether they be related to the miles of track, depth of the tunnels, multi-million-pound regeneration programmes, or years until completion. Well, here’s another metric or two for you: one company is delivering 7.5 million litres of water to the London end of the project and three million litres of water to the Birmingham Curzon Street section – every month. For context, there are 2.5 million litres of water in the Olympic swimming pool in Tokyo. That water is provided by T&M Bowser Solutions (T&M), a manufacturer of custom-built bowsers (tankers). ‘What made that [litre] total more remarkable’ says Terry Beasley, Managing Director at T&M, ‘Was that we’ve been delivering more diesel than water to the Birmingham end of the project, while London had been consuming more of the water.’ As we’re talking about numbers, today, 70 per cent of T&M’s entire fleet of 110 vehicles is working on railway projects and over 90 per cent of them are on HS2, with the remainder fulfilling commitments to Crossrail. In fact, such is demand from both the Birmingham and London phases of the project, Beasley recently signed off on the manufacture of 50 additional four-by-four, 10,000-litre vehicles. And with one single project presenting so much long-term work, further expansion is likely – it might even be necessary. ‘We’ve got about the same amount of four-by-fours at each site’ continues Beasley, ‘There’s more machinery in the midlands, which is the longer, larger part of the project as we see it, hence the greater demand for diesel, generally. But water is in constant demand throughout.’ Legacy project T&M’s fleet includes its four-by-four, 10,000-litre and 30,000-litre capacity trucks that are widely utilised for bulk water supply to the railway sector. A lot goes into laying track, and, at each stage, a variety of plant
Rail Professional
A four-by-four, 9,000-litre vacuum water tanker.
and vehicles are required to keep the job moving. Wherever the equipment goes, the requirement for water—and fuel— remains essential. Beasley says: ‘(HS2) is a legacy project that everyone wants to be part of. Our customers on the north (Balfour Beatty VINCI) and south (Skanska Costain Strabag, SCS JV) recognise that timely delivery of water and fuel is fundamental to success. Without constant access to water and fuel, major rail projects would shudder to a halt.’ Of course, HS2 doesn’t represent a foray into rail for T&M, but more an increased commitment to the sector. T&M has been serving the rail construction industry since inauguration more than three decades ago. Over that time, while the ambition of railway projects has changed, the major task of getting to plant and vehicles, often in remote, rural, locations has remained the same. There’s a simplicity to that requirement, yet it poses great logistical challenges. Ensuring bowsers have the right fuel attachments for this unique sector’s trains and plant is just the starting point. ‘We can get water where most people can’t’ Beasley says. ‘Often it comes down to our ability to adapt; we’ll make a vehicle do what the customer wants it to. Over the years, we’ve built up a reputation for delivery. Of course, without it, we wouldn’t
continue to get contracts. It helps that the same companies are involved across our customer base – road, air, rail, construction and ground investigation – but that only works in your favour if you become reputed for delivery of the solution that they need.’ Before commencement of HS2, only 25 per cent of T&M’s fleet was engaged on rail projects. This summer marks six years of
