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Victa Railfreight, the Maidstone based rail operations support specialist has had a good year and is predicting strong financial results for 2016/17, as it expands services and creates jobs. The results follow a period of some three years of sustained development and growth.
During this time Victa’s turnover has grown to £4.67million and it has over 100 employees having built successfully from 2014 when turnover stood at £620,000 and the company employed 20 people.
Debbie Simmonds, Victa’s Head of Contracts & Resources Manager, revealed the results to an audience of Rail Freight Group members at the organisation’s annual summer meeting.
Debbie explained that as the company works towards sustainable growth so business opportunities continue to present themselves.
“These are positive times for Victa and we are moving forward in a safe, planned and sustainable manner.
“We are in smart new premises,” she added, “and we’re launching a refresh of our logo to reflect our aspirations for more growth.
“Watch this space.”
Victa Managing Director, Neil Sime, was delighted at the progress made over recent years.
He explained: “Our ground staff services are in great demand.
“We work up and down the country providing shunters and terminal drivers for most of the freight operating companies.
Whereas previously a lot of our work was ad hoc this is increasingly becoming contracted, offering security to both parties.
“We also provide rail operations staff to the Crossrail project to man the engineering construction trains, continuing our support of major construction projects as we have previously on HS1 and Heathrow Terminal 5.”
Neil explained that Victa also offers support to passenger companies.
“For Virgin East Coast, for example, we provide staff for coupling and uncoupling diesel hauled trains during Network Rail maintenance works and we shunt the Caledonian Sleeper in Aberdeen on a daily basis.”
Victa has also experienced a boom in its safety and competency training activities and consequently is planning to expand its range and scope of these courses.
Neil concluded: “We are also strengthening our management team as we move forward in a planned and professional manner.”