Proactive winter risk management for a safer, more efficient rail network

Chiltern Railways is a long-standing UK train operating company that runs services between London and the West Midlands. With a network of 32 stations, platforms and car parks under its management, the company plays a vital role in regional connectivity and serves thousands of commuters and travellers daily. As part of its operational responsibilities, Chiltern is committed to maintaining safe, accessible environments for its passengers and staff, especially during the challenging winter months.

The struggles with reactive in-house winter operations

Before 2013, Chiltern Railways relied on its own maintenance teams to deliver winter gritting and snow clearance across the network. However, this approach revealed several pain points:

Lack of forecasting tools meant gritting was reactive, only occurring after snow or ice had already formed. This raised concerns around health and safety compliance and increased the risk of insurance claims due to slips and falls.
Operational strain was growing, as staff responsible for maintenance and customer service were pulled away from core duties to manage winter hazards.
Increased costs during cold weather periods, particularly from staff overtime, were placing pressure on budgets.

Internally, the teams were frustrated by inefficiencies and stretched workloads. Externally, the company risked being seen as reactive rather than responsible. There was a deeper belief that a public transport provider should offer a safe, consistent and professional service, no matter the weather.

A smarter, proactive approach to winter risk management

Chiltern Railways approached Nurture Winter Gritting to review and improve their winter risk management strategy. Our proposal centred around transforming their reactive model into a proactive, data-led approach.

We implemented a professional road surface temperature forecasting system, which enabled advance alerts and timely decision-making. As part of the service, we took over gritting and snow clearance responsibilities for car parks, outlying areas and unmanned platforms. Freeing up Chiltern staff to focus solely on the station platforms. Each day, Chiltern received gritting alerts tailored to their network, empowering them to plan ahead and avoid disruption.

Easy integration with existing operations

We worked closely with Chiltern Railways to ensure a smooth transition from in-house delivery to our outsourced model. The implementation involved:

Introducing our forecasting system and training key contacts to interpret daily alerts.
Establishing a clear division of responsibility between our teams and Chiltern’s, ensuring platforms remained under their remit while we handled external areas.
Agreeing specific service times for unmanned stations, allowing us to carry out overnight gritting without interrupting daytime operations.

There were no significant operational issues during rollout. The structured implementation allowed Chiltern to retain oversight while gaining peace of mind through professional winter coverage.

Measurable gains across the network

The transformation in winter operations delivered several measurable benefits:

Reduced internal strain: Chiltern’s maintenance and ticketing staff no longer had to leave their main duties to carry out gritting, allowing daily operations to remain on schedule even in cold spells.
Lower costs: With gritting now proactive, overtime demands were significantly reduced, especially at night and during severe weather.
Improved safety and compliance: Reliable, professional gritting reduced the risk of slips, trips and liability claims, supporting Chiltern’s H&S obligations.
Consistent coverage across the network: Even unmanned or remote platforms received attention, enhancing the customer experience.

“What really stood out was the impact this had on Chiltern‘s day-to-day operations. Staff were no longer being pulled away from key duties, and overtime costs dropped significantly. Our daily alerts gave them confidence to plan ahead, and the feedback we received showed how much they valued having a trusted partner managing this critical service. It’s been rewarding to see how much more resilient and prepared they are each winter.”
– Nik Tozer, Managing Director – Winter Gritting.

Ready to upgrade your winter operations?

With Nurture’s proactive gritting and snow clearance services, you can prevent issues before they arise, protect your teams and the public, and maintain business continuity in even the harshest weather.

Our tailored forecasting, reliable service delivery and national reach mean you can trust us to handle winter risk while you focus on your core operations. As shown with Chiltern Railways, our support reduces operational strain, lowers costs, and helps you meet your health and safety responsibilities with confidence.