Rail bosses praise joint team for drainage emergency response

Network Rail has praised a joint drainage team from Lanes Group plc and UKDN Waterflow (LG) for its fast response to a sewer blockage at a key track maintenance depot.

Track drainage specialist UKDN Waterflow (LG) was alerted after rail staff using the High Output Operational Base (HOOB) at Swindon, Wiltshire, found toilets and sinks were not emptying properly.

UKDN Waterflow (LG) Project Manager Lee Constable attended site within three hours of the emergency call being received, along with a Lanes jet vac tanker.

The problem was quickly identified as a blockage in a foul drain leading from the welfare unit. The jet vac tanker was used to jet clean the pipe and vacuum up the blockage material.

Network Rail facilities managers thanked UKDN Waterflow (LG) for the quick response of the team sent to site, saying staff were “full of praise for their professionalism and willingness to help”.

Lee Constable said: “The blockage problem turned out to be relatively simple to solve, but it’s still important to respond quickly with the right assets, as drain blockages can quickly become sewer floods.”

UKDN Waterflow (LG) is part of Lanes Group, the UK’s largest drainage and water utility specialist.

The emergency response reflected the benefits of being able to mobilise such joint teams in an emergency anywhere in the UK, said UKDN Waterflow (LG) Rail Depot Manager Ian Sandford.

He added: “Lone workers working through the COVID-19 pandemic must have their welfare needs considered and looked after, so we were delighted work with Network Rail colleagues to resolve this problem in a timely way.

“UKDN Waterflow (LG) is a Principal Contractor for Network Rail and Lanes has the best drainage assets in the UK, as well as significant experience in its own right on rail maintenance.

“This allows us to react quickly and with confidence to any drainage problem in an rail environment, either for planned projects or, as in this case, to resolve a drainage emergency.”