Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 28th May 2026 Issue no. 1212

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Key rail services still superbly supported thanks to contract extension

OCS has secured a further extension to its facilities services contract with the UK & Ireland's leading supplier of new trains and train services, Alstom, taking the partnership through to 2028.

This continued collaboration reinforces a long-standing relationship supporting some of the UK's busiest train routes and reflects Alstom's confidence in OCS's ability to deliver high-quality, flexible and cost-effective services in a uniquely complex environment.

OCS provides a broad range of specialist cleaning services to Alstom across key depot locations, including Polmadie in Glasgow, Longsight in Manchester, Oxley in Wolverhampton, Edge Hill in Liverpool and Wembley in London. The contract scope includes daily fleet cleans, periodic heavy cleans (PHCs), exterior hand washing, biohazard and fatality cleans, turnaround, and on-board cleaning.

OCS also supports the Caledonian Sleeper service, delivering daily cleaning, laundry and deep cleans between London and the Scottish Highlands.

Dedicated team and strong leadership

Over 500 OCS colleagues support the Alstom contract, led by account director, Angela James, and head of operations, Rob DeZilwa. The team is structured with dedicated managers for depot operations, on-board services and quality control, ensuring robust delivery and a clear line of accountability.

Since early 2023, OCS has made significant improvements to service standards. Innovations include the introduction of advanced machinery and updated cleaning techniques, as well as a full refresh of onboard team uniforms, enhancing visibility, safety and team identity. Additionally, OCS provides Alstom with transparent and reliable management information, supporting performance monitoring and continuous improvement.

Alstom's decision to extend the contract was underpinned by OCS's track record of delivering on its commitments, with service quality and responsiveness. The relationship has strengthened considerably in the past 18 months, with OCS supporting Alstom at additional depots servicing the CrossCountry, Northern and TransPennine Express fleets.

OCS has prioritised colleague engagement and development. Engagement events across depot and onboard teams have strengthened communication and collaboration, while internal promotions and management apprenticeships reflect a strong commitment to encouraging personal growth and career development. To date, all supervisory and management vacancies on the contract have been filled internally, showcasing the capability and ambition of OCS colleagues.

OCS continues to support its people with a strong focus on health, safety and wellbeing, including a dedicated quality control function and ongoing training to navigate the risks associated with frontline rail cleaning.

Working across one of the UK's busiest rail corridors, OCS teams operate in demanding environments, often in extreme weather and within tight turnaround times. The team's ability to adapt and respond has earned recognition from Alstom and its end client, Avanti West Coast.

"I'm absolutely thrilled at Alstom's decision to extend our services contract for a further two years to 2028," enthuses Richard Marshall, sector managing director for transport at OCS UK. "Working with Alstom has been a highly valued and productive experience. Its consistent professionalism, technical excellence and forward-thinking approach have made it a trusted partner throughout our collaboration. "Our ability to deliver on complex objectives while maintaining clear communication and adaptability has been instrumental in our shared success. We're pleased to be extending our contract with Alstrom and continuing this strong working relationship, confident in the progress we'll achieve together."

Gaynor Stewart, head of customer service delivery at Alstom, adds: "We are delighted to extend our partnership with OCS, whose dedication to service excellence and innovation continues to make a real difference across our operations. Its people-centred approach and commitment to continuous improvement reflect the values we hold at Alstom, and we look forward to building on this success together."

https://ocs.com/uk/ | www.alstom.com

4th September 2025