ABOUT US

Hughes Engineering & Support Services (Hughes-ESS) has been formed to bridge the gap in the services provided by most traditional suppliers. In our view, this gap can be met by providing a comprehensive end to end solution, specialising in the rectification of poor track quality and heavy maintenance sites, usually where the requirements for repair is too big for ‘maintenance’ to manage, or too small to justify the renewals of the site. Our specialism is complex track failures and the company takes pride in repairing sites that many maintainers or contractors would rather avoid. 

Based in Hampshire and ideally situated to provide services to London, The South East, The South, The South West and Wales.

BACKGROUND

The management team is made up of handpicked experienced railway engineers, who have demonstrated to us they have the exceptional track quality techniques, whilst maintaining  safety  and professionalism, throughout the delivery of the work to all our clients. 

The Managing Director has 35 years of senior railway experience behind him, with a verifiable history of outstanding quality of work for many organisations, including British Rail, Amey, Network Rail, London Underground & Metro Trains, Melbourne.  He has also worked for large railway recruitment companies, holding senior management roles, and has amassed a wealth of plaudits in the industry.

THE FUTURE

As our company grows, we intend to develop our workforce, by providing Apprenticeship roles to further enhance our service.  Hughes-ESS is fully  committed to our teams and are aware that without quality individuals, we would not be able to achieve our unrivalled, top quality service.  All of our workforce will be trained in the Hughes-ESS approach to best practice, from when each individual joins  the company.  Training and development will continue throughout their careers, to ensure the delivery of works being provided continues to surpass expectations.    By using this approach this will enable us to retain experience and expertise within the company.

INNOVATIONS

Our Managing Director is an innovator of note, well known in the industry for providing cost savings, which have been widely adopted within the railway industry. 

MSP

 In 1998 our MD designed and delivered the Measured Shovel Packing (MSP) chipping board system, which Amey used successfully throughout their infrastructure engineering areas. 

The chipping board consisted of 2mm or 3mm chipping which was formed in a tray of glue to construct the board into the correct dimensions. The use of this board eradicated the need for chipping to be stockpiled in the cess and could be dropped off by the tram in strategic locations. The advantage of the board over the traditional method, (with the chipping measured out by cannisters and spread under the sleeper by shovel, relying on the skill of one individual), now enabled the exact amount of chipping to be installed under the sleeper in the correct increments of 2mm, 3mm and 4mm.

Another innovative use that was gained from this design, was the utilisation of the glue that was used with great success on the Dawlish sea wall, to retain the ballast shoulders from being washed away by the winter storms that caused heavy train delays each year. 

BANETIC CROSSINGS

Recommendations were suggested for the replacement of semi welded crossing that regularly failed in the facing position on 100 mph main line track.  The answer was to replace these crossings with BANETIC CROSSINGS with welded crossing legs. This removed the ultrasonic failure rate by 100% , including the removal of the jointed leg ends which regularly caused loose bolts, fish plate failure and twist faults. This innovative approach to best practice railway maintenance, made significant savings in material and labour costs, while reducing impact delays caused by ESRs and TSRs.

We are currently engaging a Design Engineering student on Industrial placement to assist in developing new and different innovations that we intend to offer to the railway industry, adding value to our service while offering innovative answers to common issues for track maintainers. 

As Hughes Engineering & Support Services grows, we intend to be at the forefront of innovation within the Railway Industry.