From Crossrail West to GW Electrification – Vital’s OLE Framework Delivery

When electrons matter, the operatives do too.

The Challenge: National Reach. Live Rail. Specialist OLE Labour.

OLE works demand more than manpower: they need operatives authorised for isolation, earthing assistants, OLE construction fit-out (OLEC2/3/4), supervision, management, and deep familiarity with rail electrification protocols.

Balfour Beatty Rail required a partner who could:

• Provide a database of thousands of operatives, fully Sentinel-verified and authorised.

• Deploy national scale resources weekly: over 180 operatives on average, peaking at 301 on one route.

• Supply full OLE isolations, construction resources, supervision and management.

• Operate under live-rail constraints and deliver for major national electrification programmes.

Vital answered the call, building a framework that could deliver specialist OLE labour at pace, nationally, and with compliance built in.

How Vital delivered.

Framework, Fleet & National Coverage.

• Vital was awarded the national framework in April 2010 to supply E&P (Electrical & Power) OLE workers to Balfour Beatty Rail.

• Scope included major projects: Crossrail West, Thameslink, North West Electrification, Great Western Electrification (Newport-South Wales) and the Central Rail Systems Alliance.

• Services provided: OLE isolations (nominated persons, authorised persons, earthing assistants), OLE construction (OLEC2/3/4), OLE supervision and management.

• Achievements: over 2 million hours supplied in the preceding five years. Sentinel-verified database of 2,806 operatives (98.8 % primary sponsored).

• Deployment model: average 180+ operatives weekly; peak 301 operatives on the Western Route. A dedicated fleet of over 400 vehicles, one account manager supported by 13 Vital offices; interaction with all BBR stakeholders nationwide.

• Vital’s onsite safety vehicles delivered face-to-face safety & well-being briefings, driving culture and compliance.

This wasn’t “just labour supply”. It was a national electrification workforce engine, designed for endurance, compliance and scale.

From Crossrail West to GW Electrification.

Results that deliver confidence.

• A fully compliant, national OLE labour supply framework supporting Balfour Beatty Rail’s major electrification programmes.

• High operatives numbers, strong sponsorship rates and Sentinel verification gave Balfour Beatty Rail confidence in readiness, reporting and authorisation.

• National coverage ensured operatives were deployed where needed – across routes and major projects – reducing risk of labour shortfalls.

• Stakeholder feedback:
  

“I hope you are all as proud as I am of what you have delivered – sometimes it is easy to forget just how much we have achieved. There will, I’m sure, be many congratulatory emails – you all deserve every bit of credit going” – Chris Ottley, Project Director, Balfour Beatty Rail

“Please accept my appreciation and gratitude in the efforts your team have given us to help achieve such a successful project. We could not have achieved such a massive commissioning without your continued support and commitment.” – OLE Resource Manager, Balfour Beatty Rail

National Electrification. Specialist Labour. Vital for Balfour Beatty Rail.

Lessons that shape the future.

Electrifying the rail network isn’t a project. It’s a programme. And delivering it means:

• Build for scale and specialist competence. OLE isn’t generic labour. It requires dedicated authorisations and experienced operatives.

• Ensure nationwide deployment and visibility. Projects span regions; the workforce model must match.

• Structure supply around compliance and authorisation – Sentinel verification, sponsorship, high readiness.

• Embed safety & wellbeing culture – briefings, fleet vehicles, continuous supervision matter.

• A partner who becomes part of your programme, not just a supplier, reduces risk and elevates delivery.

Because when the rails are electrified, power flows. Vital ensures the workforce behind it is ready, reliable and on-track.