• Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years

    From Sam Wilson@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 07, 2026 12:10:03
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
    This was reported a week or so ago


    An official announcement published in the London Gazette on Wednesday revealed that a UK railway firm describing itself as "industry-leading"
    has entered liquidation. Liquidators were appointed to HIRD Railway
    Services Limited on February 27, 2026.

    According to the HIRD Rail Services web site:

    ?voestalpine Railway Systems, part of leading steel and technology group Voestalpine and global leader in railway infrastructure solutions, has
    acquired 100% of the shares in Hird Rail Services Limited?

    A major UK railway company that hardly anyone has ever heard of.

    Sam

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  • From Theo@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 07, 2026 14:20:12
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
    This was reported a week or so ago


    An official announcement published in the London Gazette on Wednesday revealed that a UK railway firm describing itself as "industry-leading" has entered liquidation. Liquidators were appointed to HIRD Railway Services Limited on February 27, 2026.

    According to the HIRD Rail Services web site:

    ?voestalpine Railway Systems, part of leading steel and technology group Voestalpine and global leader in railway infrastructure solutions, has acquired 100% of the shares in Hird Rail Services Limited?

    A major UK railway company that hardly anyone has ever heard of.

    "HIRD Rail Services (HRS) are the number one supplier of glued Insulated
    Block Joints (IBJs) to the UK rail industry."

    A major company in the Insulated Block Joint industry?

    Theo

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  • From Graeme Wall@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 07, 2026 15:18:42
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    On 07/03/2026 12:07, Recliner wrote:
    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
    This was reported a week or so ago


    An official announcement published in the London Gazette on Wednesday
    revealed that a UK railway firm describing itself as "industry-leading"
    has entered liquidation. Liquidators were appointed to HIRD Railway
    Services Limited on February 27, 2026.


    I must admit I?d never heard of HIRD, but I wonder how that news report relates to this:

    https://www.hirdrailservices.com/update/

    It looks like Voestalpine Railway Systems acquired the company, transferred its business, and then liquidated the former shell company. So it may actually be business as usual, simply under a different name.

    They appear to make fishplates.
    --
    Graeme Wall
    This account not read.



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  • From Sam Wilson@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 07, 2026 16:21:59
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    Graeme Wall <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
    On 07/03/2026 12:07, Recliner wrote:
    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
    This was reported a week or so ago


    An official announcement published in the London Gazette on Wednesday
    revealed that a UK railway firm describing itself as "industry-leading"
    has entered liquidation. Liquidators were appointed to HIRD Railway
    Services Limited on February 27, 2026.


    I must admit I?d never heard of HIRD, but I wonder how that news report
    relates to this:

    https://www.hirdrailservices.com/update/

    It looks like Voestalpine Railway Systems acquired the company, transferred >> its business, and then liquidated the former shell company. So it may
    actually be business as usual, simply under a different name.

    They appear to make fishplates.

    ??Phone for the fishplates, Norman? (with apologies to Betjeman)

    Sam

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  • From Sam Wilson@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 07, 2026 16:26:34
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
    This was reported a week or so ago


    An official announcement published in the London Gazette on Wednesday
    revealed that a UK railway firm describing itself as "industry-leading" >>> has entered liquidation. Liquidators were appointed to HIRD Railway
    Services Limited on February 27, 2026.

    According to the HIRD Rail Services web site:

    ?voestalpine Railway Systems, part of leading steel and technology group
    Voestalpine and global leader in railway infrastructure solutions, has
    acquired 100% of the shares in Hird Rail Services Limited?

    A major UK railway company that hardly anyone has ever heard of.

    "HIRD Rail Services (HRS) are the number one supplier of glued Insulated Block Joints (IBJs) to the UK rail industry."

    A major company in the Insulated Block Joint industry?

    Very possibly. FTAOD I don?t think being unknown to the mass of the
    population invalidates their status as a major company. I wonder how many people have heard of Pandrol?

    Sam

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  • From Recliner@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 07, 2026 17:31:36
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
    This was reported a week or so ago


    An official announcement published in the London Gazette on Wednesday
    revealed that a UK railway firm describing itself as "industry-leading"
    has entered liquidation. Liquidators were appointed to HIRD Railway
    Services Limited on February 27, 2026.

    According to the HIRD Rail Services web site:

    ?voestalpine Railway Systems, part of leading steel and technology group Voestalpine and global leader in railway infrastructure solutions, has acquired 100% of the shares in Hird Rail Services Limited?

    A major UK railway company that hardly anyone has ever heard of.

    Surely the real story is that the Mirror has completely misinterpreted the news?

    In reality, HRS hasn?t gone bankrupt, or closed down. In July 2025, it was
    sold by Hird Group for œ3.3m to Voestalpine Railway Systems. It was
    initially a wholly owned subsidiary, whose business and employees were soon integrated into the new parent company, and continue to operate from the
    same site. The old limited company became redundant and was liquidated. By then, it was just a dormant, shell company, so there was no reason to keep
    it.

    The Mirror had simply borrowed the story from the Birmingham Mail, a fellow member of Retch plc:

    https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-railway-company-collapses-liquidation-33527603

    So this is one of those non-stories which is technically correct, but also entirely wrong. I wonder to what extent it was AI-generated?

    This author is named as Christian Abbot, an ?Audience Writer? (that?s a new
    one on me, and presumably means he?s a click-bait generator).
    It says:
    Christian joined Birmingham Live as an Audience Writer in February 2025. He
    has previous experience writing for the Daily Star, Daily Express, and
    Daily Mirror on topics surrounding SEO, Trends, TV, Showbiz, UK news,
    global news, and more.

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  • From Marland@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 07, 2026 19:52:27
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:

    A major UK railway company that hardly anyone has ever heard of.

    "HIRD Rail Services (HRS) are the number one supplier of glued Insulated
    Block Joints (IBJs) to the UK rail industry."

    A major company in the Insulated Block Joint industry?

    Very possibly. FTAOD I don?t think being unknown to the mass of the population invalidates their status as a major company. I wonder how many people have heard of Pandrol?

    Sam


    And of those who have how many think it is a brand of Shampoo.

    GH






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  • From Nobody@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 07, 2026 18:28:41
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    On 2026-03-07 9:31 a.m., Recliner wrote:

    <thrown up>

    The Mirror had simply borrowed the story from the Birmingham Mail, a fellow member of Retch plc:

    That's a rather unfortunate name to choose for a media company.

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  • From Charles Ellson@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 08, 2026 03:20:56
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    On Sat, 7 Mar 2026 18:28:41 -0800, Nobody <jock@soccer.com> wrote:

    On 2026-03-07 9:31 a.m., Recliner wrote:

    <thrown up>

    The Mirror had simply borrowed the story from the Birmingham Mail, a fellow >> member of Retch plc:

    That's a rather unfortunate name to choose for a media company.

    Looks like a deliberate (and often appropriate) typo. You might have
    been whooshed.

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  • From Ulf Kutzner@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 08, 2026 09:19:56
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation


    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> posted:

    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
    This was reported a week or so ago


    An official announcement published in the London Gazette on Wednesday revealed that a UK railway firm describing itself as "industry-leading" has entered liquidation. Liquidators were appointed to HIRD Railway Services Limited on February 27, 2026.

    According to the HIRD Rail Services web site:

    ?voestalpine Railway Systems, part of leading steel and technology group Voestalpine and global leader in railway infrastructure solutions, has acquired 100% of the shares in Hird Rail Services Limited?

    A major UK railway company that hardly anyone has ever heard of.

    WP has no entry for them but https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-trespass_panels#References

    Regards, ULF

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  • From Ulf Kutzner@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 08, 2026 09:21:20
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation


    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> posted:

    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
    This was reported a week or so ago


    An official announcement published in the London Gazette on Wednesday >>> revealed that a UK railway firm describing itself as "industry-leading" >>> has entered liquidation. Liquidators were appointed to HIRD Railway
    Services Limited on February 27, 2026.

    According to the HIRD Rail Services web site:

    ?voestalpine Railway Systems, part of leading steel and technology group >> Voestalpine and global leader in railway infrastructure solutions, has
    acquired 100% of the shares in Hird Rail Services Limited?

    A major UK railway company that hardly anyone has ever heard of.

    "HIRD Rail Services (HRS) are the number one supplier of glued Insulated Block Joints (IBJs) to the UK rail industry."

    A major company in the Insulated Block Joint industry?

    Very possibly. FTAOD I don?t think being unknown to the mass of the population invalidates their status as a major company. I wonder how many people have heard of Pandrol?

    Those do have their own WP article:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandrol

    Regards, ULF

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
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  • From Sam Wilson@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 08, 2026 10:24:36
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    Ulf Kutzner <user2991@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:

    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> posted:

    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
    This was reported a week or so ago


    An official announcement published in the London Gazette on Wednesday >>>>> revealed that a UK railway firm describing itself as "industry-leading" >>>>> has entered liquidation. Liquidators were appointed to HIRD Railway >>>>> Services Limited on February 27, 2026.

    According to the HIRD Rail Services web site:

    ?voestalpine Railway Systems, part of leading steel and technology group >>>> Voestalpine and global leader in railway infrastructure solutions, has >>>> acquired 100% of the shares in Hird Rail Services Limited?

    A major UK railway company that hardly anyone has ever heard of.

    "HIRD Rail Services (HRS) are the number one supplier of glued Insulated >>> Block Joints (IBJs) to the UK rail industry."

    A major company in the Insulated Block Joint industry?

    Very possibly. FTAOD I don?t think being unknown to the mass of the
    population invalidates their status as a major company. I wonder how many >> people have heard of Pandrol?

    Those do have their own WP article:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandrol

    Indeed. Pandrol are a much more well known and major railway company that
    The Man On The Clapham Omnibus will have not heard of either; he?s even
    less likely to have heard of HRS, no matter how important and well known in
    the industry.

    Sam

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  • From Recliner@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 08, 2026 11:48:50
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
    On Sat, 7 Mar 2026 18:28:41 -0800, Nobody <jock@soccer.com> wrote:

    On 2026-03-07 9:31 a.m., Recliner wrote:

    <thrown up>

    The Mirror had simply borrowed the story from the Birmingham Mail, a fellow >>> member of Retch plc:

    That's a rather unfortunate name to choose for a media company.

    Looks like a deliberate (and often appropriate) typo. You might have
    been whooshed.


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recurring_jokes_in_Private_Eye


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  • From Roland Perry@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 08, 2026 11:57:00
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    In message <10ojip4$29phv$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:24:36 on Sun, 8 Mar
    2026, Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> remarked:
    Ulf Kutzner <user2991@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:

    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> posted:

    Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
    This was reported a week or so ago


    An official announcement published in the London Gazette on Wednesday >>>>>> revealed that a UK railway firm describing itself as "industry-leading" >>>>>> has entered liquidation. Liquidators were appointed to HIRD Railway >>>>>> Services Limited on February 27, 2026.

    According to the HIRD Rail Services web site:

    ?voestalpine Railway Systems, part of leading steel and technology group >>>>> Voestalpine and global leader in railway infrastructure solutions, has >>>>> acquired 100% of the shares in Hird Rail Services Limited?

    A major UK railway company that hardly anyone has ever heard of.

    "HIRD Rail Services (HRS) are the number one supplier of glued Insulated >>>> Block Joints (IBJs) to the UK rail industry."

    A major company in the Insulated Block Joint industry?

    Very possibly. FTAOD I don?t think being unknown to the mass of the
    population invalidates their status as a major company. I wonder how many >>> people have heard of Pandrol?

    Those do have their own WP article:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandrol

    Indeed. Pandrol are a much more well known and major railway company that >The Man On The Clapham Omnibus will have not heard of either; he?s even
    less likely to have heard of HRS, no matter how important and well known in >the industry.

    I have a red Pandrol clip in my collection of ephemera in the living
    room, and I'm yet to find anyone ,who when asked, can guess what its
    purpose is (/was).
    --
    Roland Perry

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  • From Certes@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, March 08, 2026 14:59:58
    Subject: Re: Mirror: Major UK railway company enters liquidation after 74 years in operation

    On 07/03/2026 14:20, Theo wrote:
    Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> wrote:
    This was reported a week or so ago


    An official announcement published in the London Gazette on Wednesday
    revealed that a UK railway firm describing itself as "industry-leading"
    has entered liquidation. Liquidators were appointed to HIRD Railway
    Services Limited on February 27, 2026.

    According to the HIRD Rail Services web site:

    ?voestalpine Railway Systems, part of leading steel and technology group
    Voestalpine and global leader in railway infrastructure solutions, has
    acquired 100% of the shares in Hird Rail Services Limited?

    A major UK railway company that hardly anyone has ever heard of.

    "HIRD Rail Services (HRS) are the number one supplier of glued Insulated Block Joints (IBJs) to the UK rail industry."

    A major company in the Insulated Block Joint industry?

    They aren't joints any more; they're now "infrastructure solutions".


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