Richard Carr

Safe operations are efficient operations: The future of depot safety and control

| September 17, 2026

Across the rail industry, significant investment is being made in new rolling stock, infrastructure and technology. At the same time, the facilities responsible for maintaining those trains and preparing them for service are becoming increasingly sophisticated operational environments. Modern depots bring together people, rolling stock, plant, infrastructure and multiple safety-critical systems, often within constrained sites […]

Across the rail industry, significant investment is being made in new rolling stock, infrastructure and technology. At the same time, the facilities responsible for maintaining those trains and preparing them for service are becoming increasingly sophisticated operational environments. Modern depots bring together people, rolling stock, plant, infrastructure and multiple safety-critical systems, often within constrained sites […]

FirstClass delivers Depot Protection System equipment for Sydney Metro project

| August 5, 2026

FirstClass Safety & Control has shipped Depot Protection System equipment to Australia for the Sydney Metro project following successful Factory Acceptance Testing FirstClass Safety & Control has reached another international project milestone, with Depot Protection System equipment now shipped to Australia for the Sydney Metro project following successful Factory Acceptance Testing. Working alongside Australian partner […]

FirstClass Safety & Control has shipped Depot Protection System equipment to Australia for the Sydney Metro project following successful Factory Acceptance Testing FirstClass Safety & Control has reached another international project milestone, with Depot Protection System equipment now shipped to Australia for the Sydney Metro project following successful Factory Acceptance Testing. Working alongside Australian partner […]

FirstClass Safety & Control Achieves Eighth Consecutive Clean RISQS Audit

| June 17, 2026

FirstClass Safety & Control has successfully completed its latest RISQS audit, marking eight consecutive years of clean audit results. RISQS is the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme and provides the rail industry with a recognised supplier assurance process. Maintaining our RISQS status demonstrates FirstClass’s continued commitment to quality, compliance and the standards expected by customers […]

FirstClass Safety & Control has successfully completed its latest RISQS audit, marking eight consecutive years of clean audit results. RISQS is the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme and provides the rail industry with a recognised supplier assurance process. Maintaining our RISQS status demonstrates FirstClass’s continued commitment to quality, compliance and the standards expected by customers […]

FirstClass completes second Depot Protection System for Etihad Rail at Al Faya

| September 18, 2025

FirstClass Safety & Control has completed a major international rail safety project at Etihad Rail’s Al Faya Operations and Maintenance Facility in the United Arab Emirates, delivering two bespoke Depot Protection Systems across the site. The latest system, supporting the Passenger Maintenance Building, was commissioned in January 2025 and complements the Depot Protection System previously […]

FirstClass Safety & Control has completed a major international rail safety project at Etihad Rail’s Al Faya Operations and Maintenance Facility in the United Arab Emirates, delivering two bespoke Depot Protection Systems across the site. The latest system, supporting the Passenger Maintenance Building, was commissioned in January 2025 and complements the Depot Protection System previously […]

FirstClass Safety & Control achieves SafeContractor Accreditation

| July 1, 2025

FirstClass Safety & Control has achieved SafeContractor Accreditation following an assessment of our health & safety documentation, and compared against the SafeContractor Charter Standards, which set out the health & safety standards required to achieve accreditation. Mark Meyrick, MD said “achieving SafeContractor Accreditation will enhance our reputation as the market leading supplier of Rail Depot […]

FirstClass Safety & Control has achieved SafeContractor Accreditation following an assessment of our health & safety documentation, and compared against the SafeContractor Charter Standards, which set out the health & safety standards required to achieve accreditation. Mark Meyrick, MD said “achieving SafeContractor Accreditation will enhance our reputation as the market leading supplier of Rail Depot […]

FirstClass completes two Depot Protection System projects for KiwiRail in New Zealand

| January 24, 2025

FirstClass Safety & Control has successfully completed two Depot Protection System projects for KiwiRail in New Zealand, delivered in collaboration with Australian rail partner Freightquip. The projects at Waltham Mechanical Hub in Christchurch and Hillside in Dunedin strengthen FirstClass’s growing international portfolio and demonstrate the company’s ability to design and manufacture application-specific rail depot safety […]

FirstClass Safety & Control has successfully completed two Depot Protection System projects for KiwiRail in New Zealand, delivered in collaboration with Australian rail partner Freightquip. The projects at Waltham Mechanical Hub in Christchurch and Hillside in Dunedin strengthen FirstClass’s growing international portfolio and demonstrate the company’s ability to design and manufacture application-specific rail depot safety […]

FirstClass supports Humbly Grove Energy with control system modifications during annual shutdown

| June 28, 2024

FirstClass Safety & Control has completed further control system engineering work for Humbly Grove Energy as part of the site’s annual plant turnaround. The work, undertaken during May and June 2024, included PAC8000 and Wonderware software modifications, supporting the continued operation and development of the site’s existing control infrastructure. The project demonstrates an important part […]

FirstClass Safety & Control has completed further control system engineering work for Humbly Grove Energy as part of the site’s annual plant turnaround. The work, undertaken during May and June 2024, included PAC8000 and Wonderware software modifications, supporting the continued operation and development of the site’s existing control infrastructure. The project demonstrates an important part […]

FirstClass supports rail safety leadership at Rail Safety Summit 2024

| March 12, 2024

FirstClass Safety & Control has reinforced its commitment to improving safety across the rail industry through its support of the Rail Safety Summit 2024 at Loughborough University. FirstClass sponsored the event, which brought together organisations and safety professionals from across the railway to share experience, discuss current challenges and consider how the industry can continue […]

FirstClass Safety & Control has reinforced its commitment to improving safety across the rail industry through its support of the Rail Safety Summit 2024 at Loughborough University. FirstClass sponsored the event, which brought together organisations and safety professionals from across the railway to share experience, discuss current challenges and consider how the industry can continue […]

FirstClass Safety & Control donates Depot Protection System for National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure

| November 26, 2021

The National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure (NCATI), has received a Depot Protection system from Depot Safety specialist FirstClass Safety & Control (FCSC) to support training and familiarisation for the college’s trainees and lecturers. FCSC donated a working Depot Protection system demonstrator including functional derailers for the Birmingham campus and provided full operator training. All […]

The National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure (NCATI), has received a Depot Protection system from Depot Safety specialist FirstClass Safety & Control (FCSC) to support training and familiarisation for the college’s trainees and lecturers. FCSC donated a working Depot Protection system demonstrator including functional derailers for the Birmingham campus and provided full operator training. All […]

FirstClass Safety & Control delivers 1st order in Australia with new partner Freightquip

| November 26, 2021

FirstClass Safety and Control Ltd (FCSC) and Freightquip announce success in the earliest days of inking a partnership agreement where FCSC named Freightquip (see press release 18th June 2020) as their official Australian distributor for their Rail Depot Protection and Control system solutions.   Freightquip have completed a contract with Laing O’Rourke, one of Australia’s […]

FirstClass Safety and Control Ltd (FCSC) and Freightquip announce success in the earliest days of inking a partnership agreement where FCSC named Freightquip (see press release 18th June 2020) as their official Australian distributor for their Rail Depot Protection and Control system solutions.   Freightquip have completed a contract with Laing O’Rourke, one of Australia’s […]

FirstClass Safety & Control partners with Freightquip for the Australasian markets

| June 18, 2020

FirstClass Safety and Control Ltd provide innovative and integrated Rail Depot Protection and Control Systems – and are a leading service provider in this market. We are thrilled to bring these innovative and bespoke systems to the Australian and New Zealand market, working with our new partner, Freightquip.  Founded in 2001, Freightquip has grown into one of […]

FirstClass Safety and Control Ltd provide innovative and integrated Rail Depot Protection and Control Systems – and are a leading service provider in this market. We are thrilled to bring these innovative and bespoke systems to the Australian and New Zealand market, working with our new partner, Freightquip.  Founded in 2001, Freightquip has grown into one of […]

FirstClass Skills Training for National College of Advanced Transport and Infrastructure (NCATI)

| April 28, 2020

We have partnered with The National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure (NCATI), to provide training and demonstration equipment for Depot Protection and Depot Control systems. The first innovative training session was presented at NCATI’s Birmingham campus in November 2019, and this was followed by a training session at the Doncaster campus in March 2020. […]

We have partnered with The National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure (NCATI), to provide training and demonstration equipment for Depot Protection and Depot Control systems. The first innovative training session was presented at NCATI’s Birmingham campus in November 2019, and this was followed by a training session at the Doncaster campus in March 2020. […]