By Simon Burch
UK rail depot maintenance firm MTMS has been tasked with helping keep the UK’s busiest railway moving after it signed a new three-year contract with train operators Govia Thameslink Railway.
The Midlands-based firm has maintained the equipment at depots serving GTR’s network for a number of years and the new contract has an option to extend to 2029.
MTMS looks after more than half of the UK’s depots and GTR is one of its biggest customers, with 18 depots based at locations stretching from Peterborough down to Eastbourne and including Bedford, Selhurst in South London and Bognor Regis in West Sussex.
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Collectively, the depots provide stabling and servicing for GTR’s 516-strong train fleet, which serves a 1,300km network delivering 340 million passenger journeys a year.
MTMS’s contract comprises a wide range of responsibilities, including maintaining carriage wash machines and controlled emission toilets, provision of a comprehensive asset list, carrying out electrical installation condition testing on equipment and providing a planned CWM flail/brush replacement programme.
The core of the service delivery is servicing the 513 required PPM’s across the GTR estates and provide a 24/7 365-days-a-year reactive callout service.
Matt Forst, managing director of MTMS, said: “The scale and scope of GTR’s network is incredible and underlines what a tremendous job our staff have been doing for GTR for the past few years.
“We’re therefore delighted and immensely proud to have agreed to this new contract with an option to continue to 2029.
“Each year, millions of people rely on GTR’s trains to get them to work, take them on a day trip or even get them to the airport, so we are ready to play our part in keeping what is the UK’s busiest railway moving and ensuring that everyone gets to their destination safely.”
The new contract will also offer the scope for MTMS to modernise and develop the equipment to improve its performance, and also includes detailed reporting on CWM and CET reliability and availability.
Peter Stretton, operations director at MTMS, added: “In terms of the number of depots involved in this contract, GTR is the biggest TOC on our books.
“It is a huge undertaking, especially since we offer both planned and reactive maintenance in all weathers, all year round, working in an industry where hitting targets is of critical importance.”
The deal follows in the wake of MTMS having extended its maintenance contract with Southeastern Railway until 2027, a partnership which involves the maintenance and renewal of carriage wash plants, controlled emission toilets and associated bowsers across 10 depots in the South-East.
For more information on MTMS visit www.mtms.co.uk
About MTMS
MTMS is the UK’s leading provider of comprehensive rail depot maintenance services. Its one-stop-shop approach simplifies depot management by handling all aspects of specialist equipment servicing – including carriage wash machines, controlled emission toilets (CETs), fuelling systems, and track infrastructure.
Beyond equipment maintenance, its experienced engineers also manage civil engineering projects and arboreal services, ensuring a safe and efficient operating environment across the rail network.
With over 50% of UK rail depots under its care, RISQS accreditation and 24/7 nationwide coverage, MTMS is the rail sector’s trusted partner for streamlined, reliable, and cost-effective maintenance solutions. The companies it works for include:
- Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) – covering 18 depot sites, extended through to 2025 with options to 2029.
- Hitachi Rail – supporting Class 800 fleet depots across the Great Western and East Coast Main Lines.
- Southeastern Railway – delivering maintenance across 10 depot locations until at least 2027.
MTMS also provides specialist support to infrastructure and fleet providers including First MTR South Western Railway and Arriva. Known for its technical capability, responsive service, and commitment to safety, MTMS plays a critical role in keeping rail depot operations on track.
