LNER

LNER and MIW

In response to growing public demand, and despite the Covid-19 crisis, in 2020, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) embarked on a project to make drinking water more accessible across its network. Operating 12 railway stations – and calling at more than 50 – between London, Inverness and Aberdeen, the rail operator was looking for a way to both help passengers and staff to remain hydrated while travelling, and reduce the waste plastic produced throughout its rail network. Having seen the work that MIW Water Cooler Experts had already carried out for TfL, LNER recruited the company to manage the project.

The Brief

The initial contract for LNER involved the supply and installation of 10 bottle fillers along the East Coast Main Line.

• MIW’s preliminary role in this project was advisory. Liaising with the LNER Project Manager, the team would be required to visit selected sites and assess the viability of installing drinking equipment, advise upon potential locations, and recommend the best drinking equipment to meet LNER’s needs.
• The high footfall of the intended locations meant that any drinking fountains or bottle fillers installed would need to be durable and vandal-proof. They must be easy to use and accessible to as wide a number of users as possible – including the less able, in accordance with the UK Equality Act (2010). The units must also be low-maintenance, fast to function, and adhere to strict water authority guidelines. And with the project taking place in the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic, hands-free operation was integral, to ensure that the equipment didn’t pose a future contagion risk.
• Once the appropriate equipment had been identified, MIW would be required to oversee the acquisition and branding of the drinking fountains, before taking responsibility for all logistics.
• Post-installation, MIW would be required to provide a regular maintenance service for the bottle fillers.

The Process

Working closely with the LNER Project Management Team, MIW worked across a diverse range of locations for this project, assessing the suitability for the installation of drinking equipment, before helping the LNER team identify the best bottle fillers for their locations.

With health and safety being at the forefront of everyone’s minds during this project, MIW recommended the Branded Eco-Dispenser MAX UV Superchill for the LNER installations. With simple, contactless operation, the units pose no contamination risk for users. While silver ion antimicrobial protection shields the drinking fountains against the development of bacteria and mould. And cutting-edge UV filtering ensures that all potential impurities – including legionella and cryptosporidium – are removed from the water before it is dispensed. WRAS approval means that the unit is certified compliant with all water authority and UK Government health and safety standards.

Designed specifically for the travel industry – MIW has already supplied Eco-Dispensers to Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as Transport for London (TfL) and other rail networks – these units have been created for security. The tamper-proof cases and the security shelf on top mean that there is nowhere for bags, packages or other potential safety risks to be hidden. The sturdy design also means that the Eco-Dispenser is vandal-resistant and durable enough to cope with heavy usage. They’re also really easy to use and accessible to wheelchair users.

Prior to installation, MIW worked with the LNER Project Management Team to arrange the customisation of the bottle fillers. Each unit was branded according to LNER’s requirements and hand-finished by MIW.

The Project Continues

MIW completed the first stage of the LNER project in March 2021. Sourcing, customising and overseeing the installation of bottle fillers in rail stations across the East Coast Main Line, including Berwick, Newcastle, Durham, Darlington, York, Doncaster, Retford, Newark Grantham and Peterborough. The project was completed on time and to budget.

LNER is currently considering the further enhancement of their bottle filler network, with plans to work with MIW on the installation of additional units in the future.