Rail & Utility Products

Kyle Readdin

Technical Sales Executive
Kyle has over a decade of experience in the UK rail industry, specialising in electrification and signalling systems. His expertise spans engineering delivery, design innovation, and procurement strategy, ensuring solutions that align with complex infrastructure needs.
For dependable GRC products offering performance, reliability, and long-term value, connect with Kyle to discuss how these solutions can support your next rail project.
📧 Email: kyle.readdin@bcmgrc.com
📞 Phone: 07885 979961

BCM GRC rail products are lightweight, non-combustible, and durable - enhancing safety, reliability, and operational efficiency across the UK rail network.

BCM GRC rail products are lightweight, non-combustible, and durable – enhancing safety, reliability, and operational efficiency across the UK rail network.

Product Highlights:
GRC Cable Trough System
• Engineered for secure cable containment on elevated routes.
• Network Rail approved (C/01/XX size range) for compatibility with existing ground-level systems.
• Comprehensive accessory range – including Bends, T-pieces, Transition Units, and Level Changes – designed to enable secure cable routing without compromising integrity

Lightweight Efficiency for Rail Installation

GRC’s low density and superior strength-to-weight ratio make it optimal for rail applications where manual handling, limited access, and rapid installation are key. Its lightweight profile delivers operational and economic benefits throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Advantages:
• Up to 80% Lighter than Precast Concrete – Minimizes transport costs and enables manual handling in constrained or remote environments.
• Rapid Installation – Eliminates need for cranes or heavy lifting gear, reducing labour and accelerating deployment.
• Enhanced Safety – Lower manual handling risks improve compliance and safety in active rail zones.
• Efficient Logistics – Reduced weight cuts vehicle movements and fuel use, lowering costs and environmental impact.
• Retrofit-Friendly – Lightweight design suits upgrades without stressing legacy infrastructure or requiring reinforcement.

Fire Safety Assurance for Critical Rail Infrastructure

BCM GRC rail products are non-combustible and certified for use in high-risk and enclosed rail environments. The composition and compliance with stringent fire safety standards ensure suitability for safety-critical applications.

Key Advantages:
• A1 Fire Rating (EN 13501-1) – Certified non-combustible with no smoke or toxic emissions; does not contribute to fire growth.
• Network Rail Approved – Accepted under Certificate PA05/00072 which includes use in tunnels, stations, and other fire-sensitive rail infrastructure.
• Thermal Stability – Retains structural integrity under extreme heat, mitigating collapse and operational risk.
• Optimised for Confined Spaces – Ideal for cable routes, service ducts, and platform edges where fire protection is essential.

Exceptional Durability for Demanding Rail Environments

GRC is engineered for long-term resilience under mechanical, environmental, and chemical stress – making it ideal for harsh rail conditions.

Key Advantages:
• Crack Resistance – Alkali-resistant glass fibres prevent micro-cracking and fatigue under cyclic loading and thermal variation.
• Freeze-Thaw Stability – Maintains integrity in fluctuating climates, ideal for exposed UK rail sites.
• UV & Weather Resistance – Withstands prolonged exposure without structural or aesthetic degradation.
• Chemical Resistance – Non-reactive to pollutants, salts, and acidic soils; suitable for aggressive environments.
• Low Maintenance – No steel or organic content means minimal upkeep and reduced lifecycle costs.
• Proven Longevity – Over 40 years of global use with installations exceeding design life.

Cost-Effective and Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions

GRC delivers a high-performance, low-impact alternative to traditional materials – combining financial efficiency with environmental responsibility for modern rail infrastructure.

Key Advantages:
• UK-Based Manufacturing – Produced in Whitchurch, Shropshire, with locally sourced components, ensuring quality and supporting domestic supply chains.
• Economic Efficiency – High performance at low cost, ideal for budget-sensitive infrastructure planning.
• Environmental Safety – Made from non-toxic materials, safe for use in ecologically sensitive areas.
• Extended Service Life – Durable and low-maintenance, reducing long-term operational costs.
• Futureproof Design – Combines sustainability and resilience to meet evolving infrastructure demands.

Learn More about GRC uses in Rail

Explore our technical drawings and specifications to see how GRC is applied across a range of rail infrastructure projects. Download PDFs for detailed insights into component design, installation, and performance.

Drainage and Utilities

Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete (GRC) offers a unique combination of properties—lightweight, high tensile strength, non-conductive, non-corrosive, and non-combustible—making it ideal for a wide range of applications.

BCM GRC stands out in the UK market by supplying standard GRC products specifically for the utility sector. This market has been the foundation of our business and remains a core focus of our manufacturing operations.

Leveraging the expertise of our specialist workforce and maintaining a strong commitment to quality, we also serve the drainage, roads, and water industries. In addition, we offer contract manufacturing services to a select group of partners in their respective fields.

We currently manufacture the following products, but we are always open to discussing bespoke versions or entirely new, non-standard solutions tailored to your specific needs:

Drainage

Headwalls
Land Drainage Outlets and Inlets
Land Drainage Inspection Chambers and Junction Boxes

Permanent Formwork

Bridge Decks
Concrete Flooring
Water Filtration
General Formwork

Bespoke Contract Manufacture

Bowling Green Channels
Contract Manufacture (non-BCM GRC branded)

BCM Top Tip

Contact our team to discuss your project or request a custom solution.

Land Drainage Solutions

BCM GRC Headwalls and Outlets

Our range of GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) headwalls offers significant weight savings without compromising strength. Designed for pipe sizes from 110mm to 900mm, these units range from just 10kg (B101) to 450kg (B900), minimizing the need for heavy machinery during transport and installation.

• B101, B102, B105: Lightweight units ideal for manual
installation—no heavy equipment required.

• B300 and above: Spillway headwalls available with optional handrails and gratings for added safety and functionality.

Junction Boxes & Inspection Chambers

Engineered for durability and ease of installation, our junction boxes and inspection chambers are robust enough for demanding land drainage applications while maintaining a lightweight design for efficient handling on site.

Permanent Formwork Solutions

BCM GRC Permanent Formwork

Since the 1980s, BCM GRC has been a trusted supplier of permanent formwork across the UK’s highways and rail networks. Our robust and efficient solutions are designed for bridges with concrete beams and spans up to 1400mm and are widely used in major infrastructure projects such as the M25, M4, M74, and A1.

Specifications

• Thickness: 10mm to 25mm

• Sizes: Standard sheets of 2400mm x 1200mm or custom cut-to-size to reduce waste and improve installation efficiency.

Key Benefits

• High Strength & Durability – Combines the compressive strength of cement-based mortars with the flexural and tensile properties of GRC.

• Fire Resistance – Non-combustible with excellent resistance to fire and surface flame spread.

• Environmental Protection – Low permeability to water, vapour, and air—resisting carbonation, sulphate, and chloride attack.

• Longevity – Resistant to rot, corrosion, and UV degradation with minimal maintenance required.

• Structural Efficiency – Flat or corrugated GRC formwork reduces required reinforcement cover while enhancing long-term protection.

Other Formwork Applications

GRC is an ideal material in cementitious projects, such as forming isolation pockets around columns in concrete flooring or in more specialised environments like water filtration systems. Its inert and non-reactive properties make it suitable for potable water applications, while its ability to be moulded into simple or complex shapes makes it a truly versatile formwork solution.

Diverse GRC Capabilities

Over the years, BCM GRC has developed and delivered a wide variety of products—from winter tees for golf courses to pontoons for marinas, and everything in between. Whether it’s a major infrastructure project, large-scale manufacturing, or a bespoke, highly specialised requirement, we’re always happy to discuss how GRC can meet your needs.

Our team is passionate about exploring new applications for GRC and welcomes enquiries from all sectors. If you have a project in mind, we’d love to hear from you.