Rail infrastructure maintenance and construction operates under unique time constraints — possession windows, line speed restrictions, and programme pressures that make every hour of a possession critical. MWE products reduce the logistics overhead within possessions: faster plant fuelling, quicker track drainage, fewer people managing equipment.
During a possession, every minute counts. A separate bowser lorry to fuel on-track plant requires road access, a long walk-in, or significant coordination with the possession controller. The FuelBag is repositioned by the site excavator — already on track within the possession — to fuel tampers, JCBs, generators and other plant directly at the workface. No second vehicle. No delay waiting for a bowser.
Rail track drainage is a constant maintenance challenge — blocked drains, saturated formation, standing water after rainfall. Maintenance possessions are often the only opportunity to address drainage problems, and they need to be used efficiently. The WetBag's no-mains, excavator-repositionable dewatering unit pumps track bed drainage and standing water quickly without hose infrastructure across the track formation.
Ballast work, track-bed preparation, concrete breaking and structure demolition on railway infrastructure all generate respirable crystalline silica dust. COSHH's WEL of 0.1 mg/m³ applies on railway worksites exactly as it does on construction sites. Network Rail's own standards require dust control as part of Principal Contractor responsibilities. The DustBag's standalone operation and at-source cannon makes it practical within possessions without mains connections.
Rail infrastructure is governed by time more acutely than almost any other sector. A possession that overruns costs significant programme penalties and disruption to services. Every plant logistics task — fuelling, drainage, dust management — that can be done faster and with fewer people directly protects the possession window for productive work. MWE products are designed precisely to reduce logistics overhead and put more of every possession into the track.
FuelBag
In-Possession Plant Fuelling — On Track
2,000L bunded bowser repositioned by the site excavator within the possession boundary. Fuels on-track plant at the workface — no bowser lorry road access required, no long walk-in. 8-metre hose reel. PPG26 compliant bunded storage. Reduces fuelling time and keeps more of the possession window for productive work.
View FuelBag →WetBag
Track Bed & Formation Dewatering — No Mains
Self-contained 2,000L tank and 3-inch pump repositioned by on-track excavator. No mains power. Pumps standing water, saturated formation and blocked drainage sumps during maintenance possessions. Stored water transported to approved discharge points — relevant near protected watercourses and Network Rail environmental compliance requirements.
View WetBag →DustBag
Ballast & Concrete Dust Suppression — COSHH
2,000L standalone water tank and 30-metre oscillating cannon. No mains water. Repositioned by excavator to active ballast tamping, concrete breaking or structure demolition areas. At-source water mist suppression for RCS — the engineering control required by COSHH before relying on RPE.
View DustBag →BarrierBag
Exclusion Zone Barriers — Rapid Deployment
144 crowd control barriers handled by telehandler or excavator. Rapid deployment of exclusion zones around heavy plant operations, buried services exposure, and hazardous work areas within possessions. Doubles deployment rate vs manual handling — protecting more of the possession window for productive work.
View BarrierBag →MWE products are heavy site equipment repositioned by on-track or on-site machines. Their use within a possession is subject to your Possession Assurance process and the relevant Lookout/IWA/COSS arrangements. The FuelBag is repositioned by the site excavator — reducing vehicle movements within the possession compared to a separate bowser lorry. Discuss specific possession use with your Contractor's Person in Charge.
Yes. COSHH 2002 and the WEL for RCS (0.1 mg/m³) apply to all UK workplaces including railway possession worksites. Ballast, concrete, and stone-based materials all contain silica. Network Rail's own standards require Principal Contractors to control dust exposure. The DustBag provides at-source water mist suppression — the preferred engineering control under the COSHH hierarchy.
Lead times depend on current stock and project scale. For project supply or fleet requirements, contact us as early as possible in the programme. We can discuss delivery scheduling around possession dates and programme milestones. Call 01905 935679 or email [email protected].
Yes. MWE products are appropriate for HS2, East West Rail, RAAC remediation programmes and other major infrastructure projects. For large-scale project supply, fleet pricing and spare parts agreements, contact our team directly. ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001 certificates from our manufacturing partners are available to support supply chain approval.
Possession windows are precious. Talk to us about plant fuelling, drainage and dust management.