Railway Children’s Night at the Station 2026
On Thursday, 26th March, some of our Rail Family members took to Liverpool Street Station for the Railway Children’s Night at the Station 2026. This
31 March 2026
When most people think of Carlisle, they picture excellence in cleaning – teams working with care, precision and pride across stations, platforms, and carriages. Yet behind the scenes, another story has been quietly taking shape – one that is now reshaping Carlisle’s capabilities and future direction.
It is the story of our move into Hard Facilities (FM) Management. This gradual and strategic step has now become one of the most defining developments in the organisation’s recent history.
Hard FM is fundamentally different from cleaning. It is governed by regulation, driven by statutory compliance, and shaped by engineering discipline. Yet both worlds meet at the same stations, the same assets, and the same customer expectations – to keep the railway safe, compliant, and operational every day.
“We’ve always had a solid reputation in Soft FM and security,” says Richard Bagguley, Head of Technical Delivery, Cleaning. “That foundation created a strong base to build from. When we brought the right people into the business, people who genuinely understand Hard FM – we were ready to take it to the next level.”
Digital by Design – CAFM, Compliance and Smarter Decisions
A key factor in Carlisle’s Hard FM maturity is its disciplined use of Computer-Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) systems across clients such as ARL and EMR.
“A good asset management system is crucial,” Richard explains. “A large part of Carlisle’s success in Hard FM has been driven by its adoption of robust digital infrastructure. Central to this is the use of CAFM systems – essential for both reactive and planned maintenance.”
This capability allows Carlisle to demonstrate statutory compliance, manage risk and plan resources with precision. CAFM gives clients complete visibility of real-time faults, planned schedules, compliance records, and Service Level Agreement (SLA) performance. With both desktop and mobile access, the system supports station managers, frontline teams, and the scheduling department, ensuring that every repair, inspection, and engineering intervention is tracked, evidenced, and delivered within agreed timeframes. The results are quite powerful – fewer breakdowns, quicker responses, and a significant reduction in penalties.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Our client’s KPI Dashboard highlighted a remarkable achievement. Nowhere is this more visible than in the Arriva Rail London (ARL), where Carlisle’s Hard FM services have changed the game, and their penalty summaries are almost invisible. The concession incurred nearly £89,000 in penalties. Carlisle’s contribution to FM categories such as lighting, graffiti, cleaning, and public toilets did not even appear in the cost breakdown.
ARL mentioned this achievement clearly, “Our FM areas are so effectively managed that they don’t even feature in the bullet points summarising the period. This reflects Carlisle’s hard work and commitment to driving down penalties.” Through open communication, coordinated reactive job management and a culture of shared ownership, Carlisle has helped ARL achieve one of its strongest operational periods this year.
Delivering the 83-Station Dilapidations Programme
One of Carlisle’s standout achievements is the 83-station refresh project for ARL. Now over 60% complete, the programme involves full painting, structural renewal, aesthetic enhancements, and infrastructure improvements.
During the works, the team encountered a widespread challenge of deteriorated steel on many external staircases. Instead of delaying the programme with extensive metal treatment, Carlisle’s technical team introduced an innovative solution – Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP).
“We designed and installed GRP covers that conceal deterioration, improve the finish and keep the programme on track,” Richard says. “It also removes the need for repeated rust treatment and helps us meet deadlines efficiently.”
The solution was approved by the client and has already yielded significant efficiencies. TfL has since commended Carlisle for its quality and professionalism. Richard is quick to credit the delivery team, “Mark Oram and the project team have absolutely smashed it. Their work on both the dilapidation programme and the EMR projects has been exceptional.”
The strengthened collaboration between ARL and Carlisle, driven by transparent communication and shared focus on reactive job management, has had a significant impact on reliability and performance. For clients, the success of Hard FM is not only in the numbers but also in the visible improvements delivered across their networks.
Success of Derby Fascia & Soffit Replacement
Another textbook example of Hard FM excellence can be seen at Derby Station, where the team recently completed a full replacement of fascia and soffit boards at the mess room. Carlisle’s Hard FM team delivered a full replacement of 80 metres of fascia and soffit boards at the mess room. The project demanded meticulous execution, involving the safe removal of deteriorated materials, inspection and repair of the timber joists, reinstatement of cabling, lighting and ventilation, and the precise installation of new UPVC components using appropriate fixings. With Chapter 8 barriers, elevated platforms and controlled access arrangements in place throughout.
The team completed the works to a high standard, finishing with detailed cleaning, joint preparation, and a joint inspection with Carlisle and EMR supervisors. The dramatic before-and-after transformation, supported by a comprehensive digital completion pack capturing attendance, weather, methods and snagging notes, reflects the professionalism and transparency that underpin Carlisle’s engineering delivery and reinforce long-term client confidence.
EMR’s De-Vegetation and Canopy Painting
EMR recently approached Carlisle with work other suppliers had struggled to deliver – vegetation clearance requiring line blocks, and canopy painting demanding specialist access. Carlisle’s planning and possession teams, highly experienced in managing trackside restrictions and rail safety protocols, secured the necessary possessions and delivered the works safely and promptly.
“Our capability in handling possessions is excellent,” Richard notes. “We arranged line blocks, mobilised our teams and delivered the works safely and efficiently.” The feedback from EMR was outstanding, focusing on the quality, pace, and professionalism of the delivery.
Culture of Pride, Responsibility and Human Leadership
Despite the technical nature of the work, Richard believes that the true strength behind Carlisle’s Hard FM success lies with its people.
“You can have the best tools, the best vans and the best systems,” he says, “but the best thing you’ll ever have is people. If they’re supported, trained, and encouraged, they deliver with pride.”
This cultural strength is reflected in feedback from clients. Marianne Martin, PPM & Statutory Compliance Manager, recently shared, “The auditor noted clear improvement and that we’re moving in the right direction. Your support and collaboration are having a very positive impact.” This sentiment is echoed by other rail partners who have benefited from Carlisle’s responsive engineering support, quality assurance systems and strengthened project management processes.
Carlisle now handles more work in-house, reducing the need for subcontractors and improving the consistency of delivery. While specialist subcontractors remain necessary for certain disciplines, the long-term strategy is to develop stronger internal capability wherever possible to give clients even greater quality control.
Innovation Leading the Way
Prepping up for the next wave of technological advancement that will shape Hard FM. Carlisle is already exploring Heat-mapping technology to detect hidden leaks and heat loss across stations, Drones for surveying difficult areas, rope-access solutions for high-level maintenance, and advanced IoT sensors capable of enabling predictive maintenance strategies.
New robotic systems for gutter cleaning – capable of capturing live footage while operating remotely are also being assessed for future deployment. Meanwhile, the transition to Electric fleet vehicles reflects our commitment to sustainable engineering delivery and efficient resource deployment.
“We’re at the beginning of this journey,” Richard mentioned, “but the direction is clear. The future is smarter, more digital, and more efficient while still being absolutely rooted in people.”
A Model for the Future
We would continue focusing on the integrated delivery model – where cleaning, projects, and technical services sit within one coordinated structure and have already proven itself. It brings personal ownership, faster communication, and a unified commitment to outcomes. “Clients are taking notice, and Carlisle is increasingly being approached for larger integrated service opportunities across the rail sector.”
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on the past year, Richard sums up his philosophy simply, “I was a client before, so I always look at our work through the client’s eyes. What would I expect? What would make my life easier? That’s the standard we aim for every single time.” With a positive mindset
supported by innovation, strong partnerships, and a dedicated workforce, Carlisle is exceptionally meeting the demands of Hard FM and setting a new benchmark for the industry.
On Thursday, 26th March, some of our Rail Family members took to Liverpool Street Station for the Railway Children’s Night at the Station 2026. This
More than 700 senior leaders from across the UK’s security, facilities management, and other support services sectors gathered on 5 March in Liverpool for Carlisle
At Innovation Lab 2026, Carlisle Support Services will once again convene the leaders shaping the future of Security, Cleaning, Facilities Management (FM), and other support
Providing flexible, on-demand support to help organisations build resilience, mitigate risks, and adapt to the ever-changing political, socio-economic, and environmental landscape to deliver seamless event experiences.
Managing trees and vegetation for the UK’s public infrastructure and commercial spaces.
Delivering aesthetically pleasing environments whilst eliminating potential hazards and operational disruptions caused by vegetation.
Provide fully vetted, accredited officers equipped with the latest technologies to secure and protect your people, premises, assets and the wider public.
Providing bespoke services that identify site specific vulnerabilities and address complex challenges to mitigate risks.
Maintaining high facility standards and minimising service disruptions across the UK rail network.
Delivering exceptionally clean environments at optimal cost and positive environmental footprint with unrivalled quality control across nationwide operations.
Delivering seamless passenger experiences whilst protecting revenue and achieving operational excellence.
Providing flexible, on-demand support to help organisations build resilience, mitigate risks, and adapt to the ever-changing political, socio-economic, and environmental landscape.
Deploying balanced crowd management strategies for optimal safety and seamless visitor experiences.
Delivering seamless visitor experiences across the UK’s biggest venues, stadiums and exhibition centres.
Transforming customer journeys with innovative car parking solutions that maximise operational control and revenue.
Enhancing and maintaining site aesthetics for optimal nature, commercial infrastructure, and community harmony. We aim to deliver beautiful scenery whilst eliminating potential hazards and operational disruptions caused by vegetation.
We streamline cleaning and facilities services that help organisations maintain exceptional standards across single and multi-site operations.
We offer a total turnkey solution from initial design and product selection through to installation and commissioning. Our customers benefit from benefit from around-the-clock protection for optimal peace of mind that comes from working with a trusted alarm monitoring service.
Our range of fire life safety solutions are designed to prevent, detect and contain fire and where necessary enable a safe and timely escape.
From the initial Fire Risk Assessment through to the design and installation of fire detection and fire suppression systems and ongoing maintenance and monitoring contracts, we provide you with a one stop fire protection solution.
From security-cleared operations with MOD-affiliated organisations to supporting the UK’s rail infrastructure and securing the Highest Court of the British Isles alongside countless major venues across the UK, we provide fully vetted, accredited officers equipped with the latest technologies to secure and protect your people, premises, assets and the wider public.
Fulfilling the most complex single and multi-site cleaning requirements at an award-winning standard for over 30 years.
Providing an extensive range of Soft and Hard FM services to help you streamline management and eliminate operational disruptions.
Undertaking routine cleaning to maintain the highest standards in cleanliness and hygiene for exceptional environments.
