{"id":48150,"date":"2023-02-24T04:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T04:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expleo.com\/global\/en\/?post_type=case-studies&p=48150"},"modified":"2025-05-21T09:18:03","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T09:18:03","slug":"engineering-support-a-major-rolling-stock-fleet","status":"publish","type":"case-studies","link":"https:\/\/expleo.com\/global\/en\/case-studies\/engineering-support-a-major-rolling-stock-fleet\/","title":{"rendered":"An invaluable engineering support for Porterbrook leasing, a major Rolling Stock Fleet Owner in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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In the UK, most trains in service are owned by private entities called ROSCOs<\/strong> (Rolling Stock Companies). These companies own the rolling stock outright and lease them out to Train Operators (TOCs) and Freight Operating Companies (FOCs) \u2013 either with no maintenance, some maintenance or full maintenance support contracts.<\/p>

Our client, Porterbrook<\/strong>, is one of the top three ROSCOs in the UK and owns approximately a third of the national fleet of rolling stock.<\/strong> As an owner of rolling stock, Porterbook must do everything possible to ensure the Fault Free Running period (FFR) is performed correctly to minimise risk and future breakdowns.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\tExpleo are a valuable partner to Porterbrook providing expert, professional and customer focused input whilst representing us during the testing phase of our recent new build project. Their flexible, experienced and proactive approach has truly added value for both Porterbrook and our customer. They have a detailed knowledge and understanding of testing phases and practices, as well as of recent new build rolling stock and technical issues and have proven to be a cost effective partner to support this critical element of project delivery and asset protection.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSami Ghebache - PROJECT MANAGER NEW BUILD PORTERBROOK<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Challenge: Ensure that the fault free running period (FFR) limits all risks of future failures<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ROSCOs carry the ongoing residual value risk for their rolling stock assets over their 30-40 lifespan. They must monitor their stock and ensure it is maintained adequately by the TOCs. Keeping trains on lease throughout their life, represents a major challenge<\/strong> particularly when potentially cheaper and more attractive new stock is introduced.<\/p>

One of the ROSCOs\u2019 key challenges is to successfully ensure the proper Fault-Free Running process<\/strong> (FFR), and this is where Expleo comes in: the train manufacturer\u2019s testing phase covers thousands of miles where all of a new assets\u2019 faults and failures are recorded. When no significant faults are detected, the vehicles are declared fit for purpose and accepted into service in accordance with the procurement contract for this fleet of trains. ROSCOs therefore must take a highly active role during this phase. They tend to own their own in-house engineering team, but bring in additional services and resources, as and when needed, to supplement their own expert support. Porterbrook\u2019s team is focused on asset protection and managing, arranging or contracting regular heavy maintenance of their fleet of trains.<\/p>

For this particular project, the client needed full-time on-site engineering representation at their Wembley Depot (London), during the testing programme.<\/strong> It is cost-effective for Porterbrook to contract this work externally for the four to six month testing duration, using one of their approved suppliers. Expleo was therefore asked to closely monitor the assets during the fault-free running process.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Solution<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our specific rolling stock knowledge can ensure the fault-free running process is performed correctly by train manufacturers. As we have worked closely with the company producing Porterbrook\u2019s specific assets, our knowledge of the vehicles is extremely valuable. We are able to better detect faults during the FFR period<\/strong>, which is vital as ROSCOs\u2019 business model relies on production fleets being very reliable once they go on lease with their customer. Operating as our clients\u2019 \u2018eyes and ears\u2019 on the ground:<\/p>