Company overview
Who we are
We are the UK’s Plant supplier of choice, providing a wide range of specialist machines and services for work on the rail infrastructure throughout the UK. With over 130 Road Rail Vehicles, backed by an experienced, award-winning team of industry experts, we are ideally placed to work closely with our clients to develop solutions for even the most challenging of projects.
We deliver complex projects safely, on time and within budget and work in close collaboration with our clients across the country to provide cost efficiencies and design out risk wherever possible.
We believe in transparency and have a strong drive for continuous improvement with a willingness to share best practice with the wider industry. We are repeated winners of the Continuous Improvement Award and Share With Awards at the Network Rail Plant Awards.
130 RRVs plus extensive fleet of specialist attachments In Numbers
8 FORS accredited in-house haulage vehicles
300+ colleagues
70% of team directly employed
£34m turnover FY24/25
4 regional depots covering the UK
Our Locations
Our team are based across the country in four strategic locations, enabling us to provide first-class service to our clients across the UK. Want to learn more about how we can support your next project? Use the contact details below to speak to your nearest team.
Salsburgh Depot
Duntilland Road, Salsburgh, Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 4NZ
Mark Hendren - Regional Manager mark.hendren@storyplant.co.uk
Alex Gemmell - Key Account Manager alexander.gemmell@storyplant.co.uk
Carlisle Depot (and Head Office)
Burgh Road Industrial Estate, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7NA
James Haile - Regional Manager james.haile@storyplant.co.uk
Peter Wilkinson - Key Account Manager peter.wilkinson@storyplant.co.uk
Beckingham Depot
Paddock Farm, Wood Lane, Beckingham, Doncaster, DN10 4NR
Tom Harty - Regional Manager tom.harty@storyplant.co.uk
Liam Maylor - Strategic Key Account Manager liam.maylor@storyplant.co.uk
Birmingham Depot
Unit 9 Avery Dell Industrial Estate, Lifford Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham, B30 3DZ
Dean McKinnon - Regional Manager dean.mckinnon@storyplant.co.uk
Terence Pettitt - Key Account Manager terence.pettitt@storyplant.co.uk
Our Work Types
Track Renewals
Earthworks
Drainage
Piling
Structures
Stations & Depots
Light Rail
Lineside Civils
Signalling
OLE
Vegetation Management
Ground Investigation & Geotechnical
Track Renewals
Our team are experienced in the safe and efficient delivery of a full range of track renewal and heavy maintenance projects. Backed by an impressive fleet of RRVs and specialist attachments, we are ideally placed to provide time and cost efficiencies for our clients’ track schemes including:
• Plain line renewals
• S&C renewals
• Rerailing
• S&C components
• Sleeper changing
• Scrap clearance
Earthworks
To support earthworks operations we can utilise our RRV fleet and civils machines for operations carrying out a wide range of earthworks activities. Our team are experienced in delivering earthworks projects in a range of industries, with typical works including:
• Embankments
• Cuttings
• Stabilisation
• Soil nailing
• Highways schemes
• Energy projects
• Regulated industry projects
• Housing development infrastructure
Drainage
We operate a fleet of specialist machines and attachments which are perfectly suited to completing a full suite of on and off-track drainage activities. By utilising RRVs with offset booms and civils plant, we are able to carry out a drainage works including:
• UTX
• URX
• Wet beds
• Culverts
• Cess drainage
• 6-foot drainage
• Crest drainage
• Counterforts
Structures
Piling Stations & Depots
Our team is experienced in the planning and completion of a wide range of piling activities, on and off the rail infrastructure. Our tracked and wheeled Colmar T10000 machines, can be fitted with our specialist MOVAX or BSP piling equipment to complete:
• Augered foundations
• Helical pile foundations
• Ground stabilisation
• Signal foundations
• Gantry foundations
• OLE foundations
• King post installation
• Sheet piling
• Tubular piling
Our fleet of machines allows us to support a wide variety of structurebased works, from maintenance through to full reconstructions. We are experienced in supporting projects on and off the rail infrastructure, with these works including:
• Bridge examinations
• Tunnel examinations
• Signal examinations
• Bridge reconstructions
• New bridge construction
• Bridge refurbishments
• Tunnel stabilisation
• Footbridge renewals
We utilise a variety of RRVs and civils machines to deliver a wide range of works in station and depot environments. Our team are experienced in planning works which require working in tight spaces, as well as ensuring minimal disruption to day-to-day operations where facilities remain open. Our works include:
• Platform upgrades and extensions
• Depot refurbishments
• New station builds
• Canopy installations and refurbishments
• Access for All schemes
Light Rail
We have significant experience in carrying out a wide range of works within light rail and metro environments across the UK. Our works have included supporting clients such as:
• Midland Metro
• Nexus - Tyne and Wear Metro
• Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)
• Mersey Rail
• Edinburgh Trams
• Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (Glasgow Subway)
Lineside Civils
Our fleet of machines and specialist attachments enable us to support a wide range of lineside civils activities on the rail network. We are also able to utilise our hi-ab wagon fleet to provide just in time deliveries to site, reducing security risks of storing materials on site.
Our lineside civils works typically include:
• Cable laying
• LOC deliveries
• REB installations
• Troughing and material distribution
Signalling
We operate a fleet of technologically advanced fleet which provides the capability to complete a range of signalling works.
Alongside our MEWP fleet, we also utilise a fleet of RRVs with Rhino Horn attachments, and our in-house developed Colmar Crane. These machines are ideally suited to complete works such as:
• Signal post replacement
• Signal head replacement
• Signal base installations
• Haulage and lifting provision
OLE
We operate a fleet of MEWPs with large 400kg basket capacities, providing addition storage space for OLE works. In addition, we have also developed bespoke storage solutions, which enable further materials to be transported on the machine, improving on-site efficiencies.
With the use of our MEWP and wider RRV fleet, we are able to support OLE works including:
• Contact wire runs
• OLE resilience
• Main part steel installation
Vegetation Management
In order to support the vegetation management requirements of our clients, we have invested in a number of specialist attachments. In addition, our in-house team have worked with our clients to develop bespoke solutions to help reduce waste and improve productivity during vegetation management works on-site, including:
• Flailing
• Chipping
• Hedge cutting
• Site clearance
Geotechnical & GI
We work in close collaboration with our Story Geotech team, enabling us to utilise our fleet of RRVs and geotechnical equipment to provide packaged geotechnical and ground investigation solutions for our clients.
Our fleet can be utilised to support and facilitate geotechnical works including:
• CPT - Cone Penetration Testing
• Soil Nailing
• Rotary percussive drilling
• Restricted access solutions and challenging access
Our Products & Services
On Track Plant Hire
Civils Plant Hire
Haulage
ALO Support
POS Provision
Maintenance
Technical Training & Assessments
Story Geotech
On Track Plant Hire
WHEELED RRV EXCAVATORS
Our fleet of Wheeled RRV’s includes a range of heavy-lifting machines capable of carrying out a variety of works on-site. Our fleet includes state-of-the-art Liebherr 924’s, Colmar T10000s and Liebherr A900 machines.
TRACKED RRV EXCAVATORS
We operate a fleet of technologically advanced Tracked RRV’s which boast incredible flexibility and versatility. This includes our Liebherr 920 machines, alongside Colmar, Kobelco, Komatsu, JCB and Hitachi models allowing us to overcome the most complex of site problems.
DOZERS
We operate a number of RRV Dozers of varying sizes and capabilities, including our CAT D6K2 dozer, the largest dozer available on the UK rail infrastructure. Our larger machines provide significant pushing power, whilst our smaller dozers can work in restrictive environments such as tunnels, viaducts and around catchpits.
MEWPS
We operate a fleet of 30 of the most technologically advanced Mobile Elevated Working Platforms (MEWP’s). Ideal for carrying out all working at height tasks including OLE works and structure inspections.
RRV CRANE
Our Colmar T10000 RRV Crane is one of the only machines of its type in the UK after the completion of a bespoke conversion programme. Following completion of lifting or carrying crane duties, the machine can revert to RRV mode and is compatible with a wide range of attachments.
UNIMOG
Our RRV Unimog ideal for use on both road and rail. Its powerful engine, highperformance transmission, all-wheel drive with differential locks and a torque converter for smooth starts. Combined with our fleet of rail trailers, the Unimog can haul loads of up 140T on track. Click
Civils Plant Hire
Our fleet of construction plant is suitable for utilisation of a variety of civil engineering projects in both rail and nonrail environments. From large excavators capable of heavy lifting, to mini-diggers ideal for working in tight spaces with limited access, our versatile fleet is ideally position to overcome any challenges on your next project.
Many of our excavators are fitted with state-of-the-art systems to ensure safe OLE and ALO working, enabling lineside civils to be carried out with ease. Our fleet of civils plant includes:
• Large Excavators (14 tonnes to 22 tonnes)
• Mini-Diggers (2.8 tonnes to 9 tonnes)
• Dozers
• Telehandlers
Haulage
Operating our own fleet of haulage vehicles enables us to transport our machines to projects as and when required, even at late notice. By using our own in-house planning and delivery teams, we provide our clients with confidence that machines will be delivered to site safely and ontime, reducing the risk of programme disruption.
Our hi-ab wagons also enable us to provide just-in-time delivery for clients, reducing the security risk of storing machines and materials on site.
ALO Support
Our highly experienced team has a deep understanding of ALO, with expertise in delivering projects in compliance with Network Rail ATP 04 standards. From the planning to final delivery, we work collaboratively with all relevant stakeholders and construction teams to develop a safe, efficient, and fully compliant ALO working methodology. Our structured approach ensures that all ALO activities are carefully planned and executed to the highest standards. We operate a modern, versatile fleet of machinery, all equipped with certified ALO working systems. This enables us to deploy the right specialist equipment for each project and maximise productivity.
POS Provision
Our POS planning team are experienced rail staff who are implanted into our clients’ teams and work alongside their staff to ensure successful project planning and delivery.
Our POS provision provides efficiencies by de-risking works and freeing up members of your team, but also generates cost savings. This is achieved through machine selection, innovative pricing packages and working collaboratively to achieve efficiencies in project methodologies. We can track the savings generated on a monthly basis, with our existing clients seeing savings of up to 29%.
Maintenance
When supporting our clients work, we provide a market leading product support service across our depots and sites.
Each of our depots are home to a dedicated maintenance team, who ensure each machine and attachment is compliant and in peak condition prior to being transported to site.
We also provide a team of Fitters across our sites, who are equipped with extensive toolkits within specialist fittedout vehicles and mobile workshops, enabling them to resolve any issues on-site quickly and efficiently.
Training
With over 35 years of experience in the Construction industry and 25 years in the Rail industry, we are uniquely placed to understand your requirements and provide a wide range of technical and safety critical training courses.
Our purpose-built, NSAR accredited test tracks replicate the rail infrastructure but provides controlled and safe surroundings, ensuring your team are ready to work on the rail infrastructure. We are also able to provide assessments throughout the UK and are an approved CSCS Health Safety and Environment test centre and CPCS Renewal test centre.
Story Geotech
Backed by an extensive fleet of specialist ground investigation and geotechnical plant, our Geotechnical Engineering team can bring innovation and efficiencies to a wide variety of projects. The team bring a wealth of experience to ensure clients are provided with robust data and information to assist in the planning stage of projects.
We specialise in high quality foundation, civil, geotechnical and structural engineering services for the rail, highways and infrastructure sectors. Capturing the right information at site first-time, prior to construction, will reduce hidden risks and saves valuable time, resource and money.
Plan Safe : Work Safe
Safety and sustainability are at the heart of what we do and we strive to ensure that the we continually perform to the highest standards and industry accreditations.
Our experienced team work closely with our clients to remove safety risks throughout development of project methodologies. Our team can also support with ALO plans and on-site meet and greets, providing added benefits to our clients and ensuring the safe delivery of on-site plant works.
In addition, many of our RRVs are fitted with recording cameras and Human Form Recognition to remove the risk of on-site plant/person interfaces. Our machines are also fitted with positive pressure filtered air cabs for silica dust and we complete in-house upgrades of our fleet to ensure adherence to the latest industry safety standards.
Plant Upgrades
Our Engineering Upgrade operations are undertaken by our Refurbishment team, based in our Carlisle Refurbishment Centre. The team carry out a range of refurbishments and upgrades to our extensive fleet of machines and attachments, allowing them to remain at the forefront of innovation, with all machines upgraded to the latest RIS-1530-PLT Version 7.2 standard.
Carrying out upgrades and tip testing in-house allows us to refurbish and upgrade machines with improved quality control and reduced time-scales. This means we can have as many machines as possible available to meet our clients needs at any time.
Sustainability
As part of our commitment to delivering sustainable and efficient plant hire solutions, we are undertake a range of operations to ensure we are acting sustainably.
We monitor OEM data to manage emission levels in our fleet and have developed a fleet strategy which will see us increase our fleet with Stage V engines. We also work closely with our clients to optimise methodologies and utilise machines for multiple tasks, reducing haulage deliveries.
We have also recently renewed our haulage fleet to offer sustainable delivery solutions, with the fleet seeing a c.20% reduction in fuel usage across our operations.