Introduction

Total Rail Solutions was a UK rail services company best known for supplying road-rail vehicles, specialist plant, trained operators and Plant Operating Scheme support to railway projects.

The company was acquired by Readypower Group in October 2023 and was subsequently integrated into the wider Readypower business. It no longer operates as an independent rail company. The original legal entity is currently listed at Companies House as being in liquidation.

Total Rail Solutions Quick Facts

Detail	Verified information
Registered company	Total Rail Solutions Limited
Company number	06076007
Incorporated	31 January 2007
Former company name	Total Solutions (Southern) Ltd
Main industry	Rail plant and infrastructure services
Former operational base	Thatcham, Berkshire
Acquired by	Readypower Group Limited
Acquisition date	16 October 2023
Current legal status	Liquidation
Independent operations	Ended following integration into Readypower

The registered company originally operated under the name Total Solutions (Southern) Ltd before becoming Total Rail Solutions Limited in September 2020.

What Was Total Rail Solutions?

The company, commonly shortened to TRS, was a specialist provider of machinery and operational support for the UK railway industry.

Its main purpose was to help contractors complete rail maintenance, renewal and infrastructure improvement work safely and efficiently.

TRS worked with both principal contractors and subcontractors. Its equipment and personnel could be used on planned engineering projects as well as more urgent railway work.

In a 2022 industry interview, the company described itself as a national road-rail plant provider supporting enhancement and maintenance projects across the UK. At that time, it operated through hubs in South Wales, Yorkshire and Berkshire.

What Services Did the Company Provide?

Road-Rail Vehicle Hire

Road-rail vehicles, normally called RRVs, are machines designed to travel on ordinary ground and railway tracks.

They can be fitted with different attachments for lifting, digging, cutting, carrying materials and supporting track work.

TRS supplied this machinery to rail contractors through operated and plant-hire arrangements.

Operated Plant

Operated plant hire provides a machine together with a trained and qualified operator.

This arrangement can help a contractor obtain both the equipment and specialist skills required for a railway possession or construction project.

Plant Operating Scheme Services

The Plant Operating Scheme, usually shortened to POS, is an important safety and management system for using on-track plant on the UK rail network.

A POS provider is responsible for planning and managing plant operations, including suitable machines, competent workers and safe working arrangements.

TRS offered road-rail plant through POS arrangements as part of its core services.

Rail Maintenance Support

The company supported railway maintenance work, where existing tracks and infrastructure are inspected, repaired or renewed.

This work may involve replacing materials, improving drainage, clearing vegetation, supporting track teams or moving equipment around a worksite.

Railway Enhancement Projects

Enhancement projects are designed to improve the capability or condition of the railway.

These projects may include station improvements, track changes, capacity upgrades and work connected with larger infrastructure programmes.

The business stated that it had experience in both rail maintenance and enhancement work.

Where Was Total Rail Solutions Based?

The company was previously connected with Basingstoke before moving its head office to Greenham Business Park in Thatcham, near Newbury, in 2020.

The new site included a purpose-built office and yard positioned near major transport routes. This location allowed equipment to be moved to railway projects in different parts of the country.

By 2022, the company said it was delivering services from three main operational hubs in Berkshire, South Wales and Yorkshire.

Who Led the Business?

Paul Bateman became a director following a management buyout completed in November 2018. He later served as managing director and chief executive of the business.

Companies House records show that he resigned as a director on 16 October 2023, the same date that Readypower announced its acquisition.

Directors connected with Readypower were appointed to the company following the transaction.

Readypower’s Acquisition

Readypower Group announced that it had acquired 100% of the company’s share capital on 16 October 2023.

According to Readypower, the business had faced financial pressure caused by project cancellations, a shrinking work-bank and difficult rail-market conditions near the end of Network Rail’s Control Period 6.

Readypower said that its immediate aim was to provide stability, support employees and integrate the acquired operation into the wider group before the beginning of the next rail control period.

Is Total Rail Solutions Still Operating?

It is not operating as a separate, independent rail business.

The former company’s public LinkedIn page states that TRS no longer exists as a standalone business and has been fully integrated into Readypower Group.

Companies House separately lists the legal entity as being in liquidation. Its winding-up process began on 27 June 2024.

This means people searching for its former plant, POS or rail-support services should now look at Readypower rather than trying to contact TRS as an independent supplier.

Why Is the Company Listed in Liquidation?

The Companies House record identifies the process as a members’ voluntary liquidation.

This type of winding-up is different from a compulsory liquidation ordered after a company fails to pay its debts. The official record shows that a declaration of solvency was sworn on 25 June 2024, two days before the winding-up began.

The available records indicate that the operating business had already been acquired and integrated before the original legal entity entered this winding-up process.

What Does Readypower Provide Today?

Readypower currently describes itself as a specialist UK rail and infrastructure services provider.

Its services include:

• Operated on-track plant
• Plant Operating Scheme services
• Specialist civil engineering
• Rail haulage
• Rail drainage
• Training and assessment
• Road-rail vehicle support

The group operates a large specialist plant fleet and serves railway projects through hubs and regional facilities across England, Scotland and Wales.

These services cover many of the areas previously associated with TRS.

Why Was the Business Important to the Rail Industry?

Railway construction is highly specialised. Contractors cannot normally use ordinary construction machinery on railway tracks without suitable approval, planning and trained operators.

Companies such as TRS helped bridge this gap by supplying specialist equipment and safety-critical support.

Its road-rail vehicles could assist with maintenance, renewals and infrastructure improvements while its POS services helped contractors manage the operational requirements surrounding on-track machinery.

The acquisition also gave Readypower access to additional equipment, workers and rail-sector experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Total Rail Solutions do?

It supplied road-rail vehicles, plant operators, POS support and other specialist services for railway maintenance and infrastructure projects.

Is Total Rail Solutions still trading?

It no longer trades as an independent company. Its business was acquired and integrated into Readypower Group.

Who bought the company?

Readypower Group Limited acquired 100% of its share capital in October 2023.

Why was it acquired?

Readypower reported that the business had experienced financial pressure, project cancellations and a reduced work-bank during difficult rail-market conditions.

Where was the company located?

Its later headquarters were at Greenham Business Park in Thatcham, Berkshire. It had previously operated from Basingstoke.

When was the business founded?

The registered company was incorporated on 31 January 2007.

Is the company in liquidation?

Yes. Companies House lists the legal entity as being in liquidation, with the voluntary winding-up beginning on 27 June 2024.

Where can customers find similar services now?

Customers can approach Readypower Group, which provides operated on-track plant, POS services, specialist engineering, haulage and drainage support across the UK.

Final Thoughts

Total Rail Solutions played a recognised role in UK railway plant hire and infrastructure support.

It supplied specialist road-rail machinery, operators and POS services to contractors working on maintenance, renewal and enhancement projects.

However, it is important to understand its present status. Readypower acquired the company in October 2023, integrated its operations and continued offering specialist rail services through the wider group. The former legal company entered members’ voluntary liquidation in June 2024 and is no longer an independent supplier.

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