Following a detailed tender process, Iveco was awarded the contract and the Iveco Daily 7.0 tonne van was chosen due to its superior load capacity. A prototype then entered service in October 2013 and was trialled by 12 different welding locations prior to the new vehicle being built by the appointed vehicle converters.
Commenting on the vehicles, Steve Duffy, business support manager at Network Rail, said: ‘Our welding teams wanted a larger vehicle to increase efficiency – the Daily 70C17 vans have met the brief. They allow us to carry more equipment, more economically, plus the larger engine offers greater efficiency as it isn’t being overworked.
‘The increased capacity of the Daily allows each vehicle to become a full mobile workshop. Repairs often need to take place in remote locations, and the Daily helps us provide excellent service, no matter the location.’
The Dailys are replacing a fleet of predominantly 3.5 tonne gross vehicle weight vans, which used to require careful planning and management to ensure drivers never overloaded their vehicles.
Each Daily is being fitted with a tail-lift with a capacity of 750 kg, to allow it to carry the trolley system that enables engineers to operate trackside. They also benefit from reversing cameras and an on-board weighing system.
Network Rail expects to run each Daily for six to seven years depending on the mileage undertaken by each vehicle. They are being purchased outright by Network Rail.