Network Rail Scotland Fleet Electrification with FOREV
Project Budget
Delivered via a PPA solution
Accelerating Fleet Electrification for Network Rail with FOR EV
Our insights created savings of £15 million while strengthening the approach to utility management, helping to safeguard project timelines and minimise potential disruptions on this nationally.
Background
Assisting Success provided independent strategic advice and programme oversight to Network Rail (Scotland) during the installation of its first electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs at its maintenance depots at Irvine and Cowlairs. Delivered in partnership with EV infrastructure specialist FOR EV, the strategic pilot project underpinned Network Rail’s National Road Fleet Transformation Programme, enabling the transition of its extensive operational fleet to zeroemission vehicles and advancing the organisation’s drive towards netzero transport.
The brief
Network Rail required an innovative financing and delivery model and turned to FOREV for their no-CAPEX, complete charging solution. The projects were to be delivered at pace, to capture learnings that would inform its wider fleet-transition plans. We coordinated multiple stakeholders – including FOR EV, Energy Assets and Network Rail’s engineering, fleet and depot leads and teams, to steer detailed design, programme management and governance, ensuring 56 EV chargers were deployed quickly and safely.
Our solution
Working sidebyside with FOR EV and Energy Assets, our team oversaw the detailed design phase, working with various engineering and operational teams to obtain the necessary consents and approvals to progress works via the Network Rail High Street standards. The works also included securing independent grid connections and implementing advanced loadbalancing technology to futureproof capacity. We also worked alongside the Network Rail Programme team to help deliver EV awareness training for depot staff to smooth the transition.
The first hub at Irvine went live in just nine weeks, providing AC/DC charging for up to 56 vehicles. Our intervention minimised disruption, derisked delivery and unlocked a scalable model that will now be replicated across Network Rail’s depots, cutting emissions and operational costs.
Outcome
First depot hub live in nine weeks with charging capacity for 56 vehicles, strengthening delivery confidence for future rollouts.
Their insights and detailed reviews directly influenced improvements in risk management, commercial control, and overall project governance. Assisting Success provided invaluable support, accelerating delivery and adding real, measurable value to HS2’s objectives.
