Fleet Tripled: Britain’s Biggest Gas Network triples size of rapid response motorcycle fleet with major new bike acquisition

safety

  • Britain’s biggest gas distribution network Cadent has tripled the size of its rapid response motorcycle fleet with new police style patrol bikes
  • New BMW 750GS bikes bought into service alongside existing BMW RT1200
  • Specially trained biker engineers in North West, North London and the East of England now able to respond to emergency callouts by motorcycle
  • Statistics show biker engineers can reach emergency call-outs up to 50 per cent faster than using traditional methods 
     
    Emergency engineers working for Britain’s biggest gas network Cadent are heading out on the highway on new police style patrol bikes which form part of a majorly expanded rapid response fleet.
     
    Almost 25 years after the North London Gas network first started using motorcycles the fleet has undergone a major expansion with Cadent’s emergency biker capability being tripled to include both its North West and East of England networks.
     
    The North London network has successfully used motorcycles since 1996 with the bikes playing a vital role in helping events such as the funeral of Princess Diana go ahead without disruption. Over the past year the North West network has blazed the expansion trail with a successful trial of the bikes where engineers reached potentially life threatening incidents 50 per cent faster, then by van.
     
    Now both the North London and North West networks have purchased new BMW 750 motorcycles, which being smaller and lighter than the BMW RT1200, will enable them to negotiate tighter traffic spaces, potentially reaching incidents even faster.
     
    One of the existing BMW RT1200 bikes is being transferred to Cadent’s East Anglia patch. The other BMW RT1200 will be retained by the North West network, meaning it will have three bikes in total.
     
    The bikes are specially adapted with amber strobe lights, expandable removable top box and panniers plus satellite navigation and clad in Cadent livery.
     
    Dominic Stephens, Fleet Specialist for Cadent, who played a major role in procuring the new motorcycles, said: “The motorbikes enable our engineers to get to incidents faster but with enough onboard storage capacity to still carry the tools and equipment they need to safeguard life and property.
     
    “They’re especially useful in congested urban areas like London, Manchester and around the M25 in places like Hertfordshire, as our engineers can filter around through the traffic and get to where they’re needed fast.”
     
    He added: “Though we’re not a blue light service we have found that with the amber lights, white helmets and hi-vis jackets motorists are very receptive in letting our riders filter through.
     
    “From ensuring major events in London have not been disrupted to our recent successes in Manchester, Cadent has shown that motorcycles still have a strong future as working vehicles in the 21st century.”
     
     
     
     
ENDS
 

Cadent

Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy.  We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change.  Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency.   Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing. 

Future of Gas: Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050. That means we’re backing the introduction of hydrogen as a low carbon alternative to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower carbon alternative offered by hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.

Cadent manages the national gas emergency service free phone line on behalf of the gas industry - 0800 111 999*

Cadent Gas Ltd is owned by a consortium of global investors.

*All calls are recorded and may be monitored.

Media contacts

Ben Green

Ben.Green1@cadentgas.com

07773 122925