Rail bosses praise joint team for drainage emergency response

Rail bosses have praised a joint drainage team from Lanes Group plc and UKDN Waterflow (LG) for its fast response to a sewer blockage at an important maintenance depot.

Network Rail called track drainage specialist UKDN Waterflow (LG) after rail staff using the High Output Operational Base (HOOB) at Swindon, Wiltshire, had problems with toilets and sinks.

UKDN Waterflow (LG) Project Manager Lee Constable attended site within three hours, along with a Lanes jet vac tanker.

They quickly identified a blockage in a foul drain. 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, 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 we have to respond quickly with the correct assets, as drain blockages can cause sewer floods.”

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

The emergency response demonstrates the benefits of being able to mobilise joint teams any drainage emergency, 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.