What SLC Rail does

SLC Rail (legal name Sable Leigh Consultancy Ltd) is a UK rail infrastructure development and delivery consultancy headquartered in Birmingham, with 11–50 employees and trading since 2009. The firm builds strategies, schemes, and delivery capability for third-party rail infrastructure projects on behalf of local authorities, combined authorities, train operating companies, commercial developers, and Local Enterprise Partnerships. Its service portfolio spans four core lines—Shaping Rail Strategy (business cases and funding support), Developing Rail Schemes (stakeholder acceptance and approvals), Delivering Infrastructure Projects (project management and engineering through to entry into service), and Supporting Projects Interfacing with the Railway (Network Rail interface management)—plus a Highways capability for road projects touching rail assets.

The business operates as a professional services consultancy. Revenue is generated through framework agreements, competitive tendering, and direct commission with public and private sector clients, with pricing scoped per engagement and not publicly disclosed. Delivery relies on industry-standard methodologies including Network Rail's PACE (Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment), GRIP (Governance of Railway Investment Projects), and CSM (Common Safety Method), supplemented by an internal methodology described as 'The SLC Way.' The firm's core technology stack is process- and methodology-driven rather than platform-driven.

SLC Rail's track record includes 22 stations opened, 20+ in early-stage development, and 120+ transformative projects. Major engagements include the West Midlands Rail Programme (£200 million across seven stations) and the Northumberland Line (£162 million, six stations—the largest third-party-funded rail upgrade directly developed by a UK local authority)—both delivered via a long-standing joint venture with AECOM branded Perfect Circle. The firm holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 reaccreditations (each for seven consecutive years to 2026), RISQS verification, and Cyber Essentials certification, underpinning eligibility to operate in safety-critical rail environments.

Name

SLC Rail

Legal name

Sable Leigh Consultancy Ltd

Website

https://slcrail.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SLC Rail is a UK rail infrastructure consultancy headquartered in Birmingham that develops strategies, secures funding, and delivers rail infrastructure projects for local authorities, developers, and train operators from concept through to entry into service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rail Infrastructure Consultancy

NAICS

Support Activities for Rail Transportation (48821), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (488210), Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Railway Track & Civil Works Construction (Ballast, Slab Track, Alignment) (IMAFAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rail Infrastructure Authorities (Track, Stations, Grade Crossings) (BPAIALAG)

Keywords

• Rail infrastructure consultancy
• Project delivery services
• Rail strategy advisory
• Station development
• Railway interface consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Strategic Advisory: SLC Rail provides rail strategy development services to local authorities, LEPs, and government bodies, helping clients develop economically-justified rail investment strategies, secure funding, and build business cases for rail projects.
2. Project and Programme Management: End-to-end project management services for rail infrastructure delivery, including design management, construction oversight, stakeholder engagement, and commercial management throughout the project lifecycle.
3. Engineering and Design Services: Specialist engineering services including requirements management, design development, value engineering, and technical advisory for rail schemes and railway interface projects.
4. Railway Interface Consulting: Expert guidance for third-party projects that interface with operational railway infrastructure, including bridge replacements, developments adjacent to railway land, and active travel crossings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SLC Rail is a UK rail infrastructure advisory and project delivery consultancy that helps third parties (local authorities, developers, train operating companies) develop and deliver rail schemes. Its core services span Shaping Rail Strategy (business cases and funding), Developing Rail Schemes (approvals and stakeholder engagement), Delivering Infrastructure Projects (project management and engineering through to entry into service), and Supporting Projects Interfacing with the Railway (rail interface management and approvals).

Product overview

SLC Rail operates as a rail infrastructure consultancy providing a unified service portfolio centered on helping third parties (local authorities, developers, train operators) develop and deliver rail projects. The core offering spans four interconnected service lines: Shaping Rail Strategy (developing business cases and securing funding), Developing Rail Schemes (navigating approvals and stakeholder engagement), Delivering Infrastructure Projects (project management and engineering through to completion), and Supporting Projects Interfacing with the Railway (managing rail interface requirements). A highways capability extends services to road projects touching rail assets. The company also offers specialized property, commercial, planning, and engineering sub-services under each core offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shaping Rail Strategy Consultancy service that helps clients develop economically-justified rail strategies, build strong business cases, prioritise investment, and secure funding and industry support. Designed for local authorities, LEPs, combined authorities, and government bodies undertaking rail investment planning.
• Developing Rail Schemes Specialist services to develop rail schemes from concept through the development phases, working with all stakeholders to gain acceptance and work out the many details required for the scheme to proceed. Used by clients progressing rail projects through approvals.
• Delivering Infrastructure Projects Project management and engineering services for delivering complex rail infrastructure projects from design through to entry into service. Experienced project managers and engineers collaborate with designers, contractors, and Network Rail to provide the optimal solution. Used by clients needing hands-on delivery leadership for major rail schemes.
• Supporting Projects Interfacing with the Railway Expert guidance to help clients navigate the challenges of development and construction projects that interface with the railway, including Network Rail approvals, property agreements, and regulatory compliance. For clients with schemes adjacent to or interacting with operational rail infrastructure.
• Highways Services Advisory services for highways projects that interface with rail infrastructure, supporting development planning and stakeholder engagement. For clients delivering road schemes that touch or cross rail assets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivered 22 stations opened, with 20+ more in development
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AECOMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing joint venture partnership with AECOM for major rail delivery programmes. Together as 'SLC-AECOM Joint Venture', they serve as Rail Delivery Partner on the West Midlands Rail Programme (£200m, 7 stations) and have collaborated on multiple projects including Northumberland Line, Golborne railway station, and University railway station. The partnership combines SLC's specialist rail expertise with AECOM's global engineering capabilities.
• Perfect Circle JV (AECOM and SLC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture appointed by Northumberland County Council for the £162 million Northumberland Line project. Perfect Circle is the brand for the AECOM-SLC partnership, specifically established to deliver third-party rail infrastructure projects. This represents the biggest third-party-funded rail upgrade project in UK directly developed by a local authority.
• National TrustminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSLC provided early-stage feasibility study for National Trust's Killerton Estate in Devon, exploring whether a new active travel crossing across a live railway could improve access between a growing community and the estate.
• Balfour BeattycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSLC Rail and SLC Property appointed by Balfour Beatty (as strategic delivery partner for City of Bradford MDC) to produce outline business case and develop preferred option design for Bradford Interchange transformation, improving pedestrian access between the interchange and city centre.
• HS2 East PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHS2 East Partnership commissioned SLC Rail to provide technical advice on optimal solutions to increase capacity and connectivity between Birmingham, East Midlands, Yorkshire, and the North East following the cancellation of HS2's eastern leg.
• West Midlands Rail ExecutivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partnership where SLC-AECOM Joint Venture serves as Rail Delivery Partner for the West Midlands Rail Programme, a £200m investment in seven new and upgraded stations. SLC helped conceive, develop and deliver the programme, working alongside numerous industry partners to bring transformational projects to life.
• Sir Robert McAlpine Capital VenturesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSLC acted as intermediary between developer Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures and West Midlands Railway to facilitate new access point to Jewellery Quarter station for a mixed-use development, coordinating station upgrades including new wayfinding, ticket vending machine, and digital displays.
• West Midlands Rail ExecutivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMRE commissioned SLC Rail to create a 30-year rail strategy to shape planning and prioritise investment across 14 diverse council areas. SLC helped WMRE successfully bid for substantial control of a new, regional rail franchise under the Government's devolution agenda.
• Greater Cambridge PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLC appointed by Greater Cambridge Partnership to manage design and construction of new Waterbeach railway station, providing enhanced rail access for 11,500-home new town development north of Cambridge. Once operational, the existing Waterbeach station will be closed and decommissioned.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mott MacDonald: Global engineering consultancy with a significant UK rail advisory and project delivery business that competes for similar local-authority and framework commissions.
• Atkins (member of SNC-Lavalin / AtkinsRéalis): Major UK rail design and programme delivery consultancy competing for the same local-authority infrastructure and station framework contracts.
• Arup (Rail): Multinational engineering and advisory firm with deep UK rail project experience, frequently competing for station, scheme development and rail strategy mandates.
• Jacobs UK Rail: Major engineering consultancy delivering rail advisory, programme management and infrastructure services across UK frameworks — comparable consultancy model at much larger scale.
• WSP UK Rail: Large multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy that advises and delivers UK rail infrastructure projects for public sector clients, including station schemes and framework commissions.
• AECOM (UK Rail): Global infrastructure consultancy with a large UK rail practice spanning scheme development and major programme delivery; a JV partner of SLC's via 'Perfect Circle' but also a competitor in tendered commissions.

Direct peers

• Steer Group: UK-headquartered transport strategy and economics consultancy advising on rail policy, business cases, and station/infrastructure investment — closely overlapping SLC Rail's strategy and scheme development services.
• Systra UK: Specialist rail engineering and consultancy firm providing scheme development, engineering and project management services for UK rail infrastructure clients.

Emerging players

• Pell Frischmann: UK-headquartered civil and structural engineering consultancy with a rail practice, delivering station and rail infrastructure projects comparable in scope to SLC's.
• Tony Gee & Partners: UK specialist civil and structural engineering consultancy with a strong rail infrastructure and station design portfolio similar in scale and client base to SLC Rail.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/slcrail

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SLC Rail