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Interfleet wins National Rail Awards 2000 
At a prestigious dinner at the London Hilton
Hotel on Thursday 7th September, attended by over 700 of the UK's
leading railway industry figures, Interfleet Technology was presented
with the National Rail Awards 'Project of the Year' award, for the
'turnkey' sleeper vehicle modification project Interfleet recently
delivered for ScotRail Railways Ltd. The award, jointly organised by leading industry journals Rail and New Civil Engineer and sponsored by leasing firm Angel Trains, was given to Interfleet in recognition of the successful modification of 12 ScotRail sleeper vehicles (a contract worth more than £1.3 million), to provide improved facilities for disabled travellers. As lead contractor, Interfleet provided the design and procurement services, as well as on-site project management at the Hunslet Barclay works in Kilmarnock, where the production and installation work was carried out. The contract involved close liaison not only with ScotRail but also with the HMRI, DETR DPTAC and Porterbrook Leasing Ltd (the vehicle owners). The design solution provided by Interfleet created enough space for a berth of suitable size to accommodate entry of a disabled passenger in his/her wheelchair and an accompanying friend/partner. Each berth is provided with pneumatically operated sliding doors, a coloured interior to assist vision-impaired passengers and a range of other features to ensure ease of access and use. Adjacent to this, there is a modern disabled person's toilet, fully compliant with all the latest UK requirements. Work was completed to programme with the converted vehicles entering full service as planned earlier this year. These new sleepers have been extremely well received by wheelchair-users and other disabled passengers, enabling them to enjoy the same overnight travel facilities as able-bodied travellers. Accepting the trophy on behalf of Interfleet from Angel Trains MD Haydn Abbott, Interfleet Managing Director David Rollin said: "This award is a fitting tribute to all involved in the project, including Interfleet's Vehicle Engineering & Design team, our sub-contractors Hunslet Barclay and ScotRail's own engineering team. I'm delighted that the efforts of all those involved in making the project a success have been recognised at such a prestigious industry forum."
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