DK55 YCZ
Network Rail
Mercedes Sprinter
Rail Incident Support Unit

MV12 XON
South West Trains
Vauxhall Combo
Incident Support Unit. This small incident vehicle is to attend railway related incidents and deliver operational staff to incident sites. It is seen here at Basingstoke Rail Operations Centre.

BN12 JDO
DLR
Ford Transit
Emergency Response Team van, run on behalf of TfL by a private company Keolis Amey. This ERT has equipment to deal with DLR train breakdowns, trackside emergencies, one unders, collisions, fires, signal or computer malfunctions (as DLR is driverless automated). It carries tools and rescue equipment, first aid resuscitation equipment, and work alongside BTP and London fire brigade in the event of an incident. It has no light bar or any warning beacons at all and so may need a BTP escort when attending incidents to enable it to reach the location promptly. Note the interesting colour scheme of the rear chevrons. As opposed to the standard red/yellow, they have opted for turquoise and yellow, inkeeping with the DLR branding colours.

WR64 JYG Network Rail Fiat Doblo response unit

FE64 ZCL Network Rail Vauxhall Corsa CDTI Ecoflex response unit

BJ64 AXF Network Rail Volkswagen Transporter is a 2014 addition to the response unit fleet covering the Thameslink London North route

LT62 BFU A Volvo XC70 SE D4 Auto that is used as a London Underground Emergency Response Unit (ERU). The vehicle is used by the duty manager to respond to urgent requests for work and is based at Camden, North London

DK55 YCY This Mercedes Benz Sprinter is used by Network Rail as a Rail Incident Control Post.

LM62 YTN A London Underground Rapid Response Vehicle. It is based on a Ford Transit with bodywork by JDC.

LC10 ZTU A Honda Dueville that is operated by Network Rail. It is fitted with amber flashing lights and can cut through traffic to get to railway incidents.



The rear view.

LL08 HDH This Ford Transit is part of the emergency response fleet for London’s Underground System. It carries no flashing lights and has the same red bonnet as the larger fire-engine style vehicles.



A close up look at the graphics on the side of the van.



The rear view.

WX07 NWB This Mercedes truck is marked in British Transport Police livery. It is actually a re-liveried railway response vehicle. This truck carries equipment to Underground stations to fix urgent track problems. The report into the 7/7 Bombings suggested these vehicles were given blue lights to aid their passage in emergencies. This would have required a change in legislation, so this vehicle has been re-designated as a police vehicle and is driven by a police officer.



The same Mercedes Benz Atego truck is its previous livery, prior to February 2012. It is operated by Tubelines to provide an emergency response to incidents on the London Underground and is based at Camden.

Network Rail operates this fast response unit motorbike. It has an amber beacon on a pole on the rear and amber flashing LEDs below the headlight.

DK55 YCZ This Mercedes Benz Sprinter is used as a Rail Incident Response Unit. It carries red and blue battenburg markings and two full-width amber light bars on the roof.

WX57 DSU This is one of the Emergency Response Units for use on the London Underground. It is a Mercedes Atego with John Dennis Coachbuilders bodywork. It is used to restore services after breakdowns and carries a range of equipment to do so. In the lockers are water pumps, jaws of life, airbags, chainsaws, generators, lighting and refreshments for the workers. It weighs 11 tonnes and cost £140,000. The 10 units are based at Acton, Camden, Vauxhall and Tottenham Hale.

Update: Since late 2009 various changes have been made to the location of these 10 vehicles. They are now at Camden (2), Acton (4), Battersea (2) and 2 training vehicles. Tottenham Hale base closed on 2nd September 2009 and Vauxhall also closed and was replaced by a new location at Battersea.

BV55 UEE is the only rail incident command unit run by Network Rail. The Vauxhall truck is based next to Doncaster station it is available 24 hours a day to attend major incidents on the railways.



The rear view of the RICU which is fitted with satellite communications equipment on the roof. This vehicle is supported by 5 Rail Incident Control Point vehicles and these are further supported by 5 Rail Incident Support Unit vehicles (all Mercedes Sprinters).

DA55 EAO is a long wheel base Mercedes Benz Sprinter that is used by a rail incident support unit by NR.

FG56 PVN This is an example of a 2006 Toyota Hi-Lux that is used by Network Rail as a response unit.

HD51 LHH This NR Ford Transit has a red and blue rectangle livery that continues onto the trailer it tows.



Inside the trailer is an inflatable tent that can be deployed alongside the Transit to expand the amount of space available at the command unit.

A closer look at the equipment trailer, and also into the equipment stowed in the rear portion of the Transit. A closer look around this vehicle can be seen further down the page.

W209 YHJ This NR Ford Transit is a Rail Incident Command Vehicle. In this photograph it has been deployed to coordinate a rescue and has its communications antenna raised. Other NR and police vehicles can be seen in the background.



The rear view of the same Transit, showing the external generator. In the background you can see the exercise that the vehicle is helping to coordinate at a level crossing.

A look at a simulated incident. Rescue workers mingle in front of a train that has ‘hit’ a van at a level crossing.

RE52 BCV This NR Toyota Hi-Lux diesel is decked out in yellow and blue battenburg markings, very similar to a police vehicle. The only difference is that this car’s livery is not reflective. The NR logo and car’s use are shown to the rear.



The rear view of the same car. There are two doors on the back, one opening upwards and the other downwards, to gain access to the equipment carried.

RA54 HLH This Toyota Hi-Lux 250 4×4 is two years newer than the one above and has a totally different livery. It has a side stripe of red and blue checkers, a larger logo and fewer markings on the rear. It also has an amber flashing light bar. Also you can see a ‘Crimestoppers’ advert on the side.

KS54 PXU This is a Network Rail Vauxhall Combo 2000 16V. It has the same blue and red checker livery as other Toyotas, but not a flashing light on the roof.

KS51 MVD is a Vauxhall Astra van response unit. Notice the adjustable floodlight mounted on the roof.

KT04 PXN This is a Clapham Junction (London) based Network Rail Ford Transit Connect. It is call-sign RR39 and operates as a rapid response unit.



The rear and offside view. This type of vehicle has replaced some Toyota Hi-Lux’s (shown below) in urban areas where the 4×4 capabilities are not required.

KM51 VNE This Vauxhall Astra estate is a Rail Incident Response Unit with Network Rail. It has call sign ‘RR1’. It has more livery than the other 51-plate Astra above.



The rear shot of the same car, showing its blue and red battenburg markings, roof-mounted floodlight and amber flashing lights.

This motorbike is also used by NR to patrol and respond to emergencies. The bike is good for getting through traffic and hence is used in places like London and Bristol. Its callsign is RR23.

This overhead shot of a Toyota Hi-Lux ‘Rail Incident Response Unit’ shows off the roof markings. The call sign is RR15 (Romeo Romeo One Five) which is shown on both front wings and the roof. The orange spot on top of the cab helps to identify it as a rail response vehicle. All of these vehicles are fitted with satellite tracking devices so the control room knows where they are.