The Midlands based business SLC Operations (SLCO) has celebrated its new status as a licensed train operator with an appearance at COP26.
SLCO is based in Kings Norton and was formed in early 2020 by Cath Bellamy, Adrian Shooter and Ian Walters.
All of whom are former Chiltern Railways senior management.
The business was set up with the vision of becoming a market leader in the provision of railway operational support including:
- Rail vehicle collection and delivery
- Train service planning
- New rolling stock introduction/acceptance including fault-free and mileage accumulation
- Driver and guard hire
- Driver and guard instructor hire
SLCO are also gaining a reputation as one of the UK’s specialist train driver training providers.
This is delivered through the company’s subsidiary division The Rail Academy.
The Rail Academy offers driver/crew training and End Point Assessments for Level 3 train driver apprentices.
This comes just a year after SLCO gained approval to become a non-passenger licensed train operator.
SLCO detailed the story that led up to the granting of the Passenger Operating licence.
Cath Bellamy, SLCO Managing Director said: “The last 12 months has been spent establishing the business.
“Using our initial licence to help clients with rolling stock movements and the introduction of new/modified trains on to the network.
“This has included supporting VivaRail, Transport for Wales (TfW) and South Western Railway (SWR) with the mileage accumulation and fault free running of TfW’s new diesel/battery hybrid and SWR’s third rail type rolling stock earlier this year.
“With our new Passenger Operating Licence, we are initially setting out to support local interest groups and local government to provide passenger railways and connections where there currently aren’t any.
“We are already actively talking to a range of organisations about possible opportunities.”
At the COP26 Climate Conference SLCO supported VivaRail and Network Rail to run the UK’s first emission free fully battery powered mainline passenger train.
