Keltbray Infrastructure Services(KISL) has completed its acquisition of National Rail approved contractor Linbrook Services, gaining 140 staff along with the rail business’ £500m work pipeline
The acquisition is the firm’s first since Keltbray sold its infrastructure business to private equity firm EMK Capital in August of this year.
Having originally broached the rail sector in 2009, Keltbray commented that the sale of the infrastructure division would allow it to focus on built environment and major civil engineering markets.
Parent company Linbrooke Services will focus purely on the power sector going forward.
The move will see KISL gain 140 of Linbrooke’s staff, as well as a pipeline of work valued at £500m. The business specialised in design-and-build signalling, telecommunications and associated power solutions across UK rail infrastructure since 2003.
Linbrooke had suffered a £1m loss in recent years
In the company’s 2023 annual report, chief executive Lee Hallam attributed slowing investment in large scale infrastructure projects to numerous disputes with trade unions over pay and conditions.
Linbrooke also lost nearly £1m after the collapse of the Buckingham Group in the summer of 2023, a partner on many rail projects. This led to the company reporting a £1m operating loss and £1.7m pre-tax loss on its £71m turnover in the 2022-23 financial year.
KISL chief executive officer, Darren James said: “We are pleased with this ‘on strategy’ acquisition of the Linbrooke rail business, generating additional capability to further penetrate the UK’s decarbonised transport market.
“I look forward to working with my new colleagues as we build an exciting and rewarding future.”
Keltbray Infrastructure Services confirmed the acquisition on social media:
Key customers that are likely to benefit from continued services with KISL’s new acquisition include Network Rail, Southwest Trains, High Speed One and Hitachi.