Kilborn Consulting

What Kilborn Consulting does

Kilborn Consulting Limited is an independent UK railway engineering consultancy founded in June 2000 by Paul McSharry and headquartered in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. The firm specialises in the design of new and altered railway signalling, level crossing, and telecommunications systems for UK rail infrastructure clients, with services spanning the full GRIP project lifecycle from feasibility studies (GRIP 1-2) through concept and outline design (GRIP 3-4) to detailed design (GRIP 5-7) and implementation support. Supporting services include asset condition assessments and correlation surveys to Network Rail standards, signalling and level crossing risk assessments (including SORAT-based analyses), IRSE licensing and competency management, and Signal Sighting Committee process management.

The firm operates a project-based professional services revenue model, with engagements quoted per project rather than through standardised or recurring pricing. Its go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, targeting Network Rail, Train Operating Companies, Freight Operating Companies, engineering consultancies (Tony Gee & Partners, AECOM, PBH Rail), and infrastructure contractors. The firm holds RISQS (Rail Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme) approval as a supplier to the Railway Group, with consecutive annual audit passes in 2022, 2023, and 2024 at 5 Star Rating Reduced Industry Minimum Requirements. Its team of 16 includes multiple IRSE-licensed engineers across categories including Signalling Principles Designer, Signalling Designer, and Engineering Manager.

In February 2026, Kilborn joined TYLin, a global infrastructure engineering firm, marking TYLin's first strategic entry into the UK rail market. Paul McSharry continues as Managing Director. The firm positions its independence from supplier affiliations and 25 years of dedicated signalling experience as core differentiators in a sector where objective technical advice and regulatory compliance are critical.

Name

Kilborn Consulting

Legal name

Kilborn Consulting Limited

Website

https://kilbornconsulting.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kilborn Consulting is an independent UK railway engineering consultancy providing signalling, level crossing, and telecoms design services to Network Rail, TOCs, FOCs, and engineering consultancies across the full GRIP project lifecycle. As of 2026 it operates as part of TYLin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Railway Engineering Consulting

NAICS

Engineering Services (54133), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Transportation & Traffic Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Telecommunications & Network Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAH), Systems Engineering & Technical Program Management (BPAHAIAI)

Keywords

• Railway engineering consulting
• Railway signalling design
• Level crossing engineering
• Railway telecoms design
• Transportation engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellingborough

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

Revenue model

1. Railway Engineering Consultancy: Professional consultancy services for railway signalling, level crossings, and telecommunications design. Revenue generated through project-based engagements across GRIP stages from feasibility through to detailed design and implementation support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kilborn Consulting is a specialist railway engineering consultancy providing design services in railway signalling, level crossing systems, and railway telecommunications. The firm delivers consultancy and design support to UK rail infrastructure clients, leveraging RISQS approved supplier status and a focused team of specialist engineers.

Product overview

Kilborn Consulting is an independent railway engineering consultancy offering a comprehensive portfolio of services for UK rail infrastructure. The company's offering centers on three core domains: railway Signalling, Level Crossings, and Telecoms systems. Services span the full project lifecycle from initial feasibility and optioneering studies (GRIP Stages 1-4), through concept and outline design, to detailed signalling and level crossing design (GRIP Stage 5+). Supporting services include asset condition assessments and correlation surveys, signalling and level crossing risk assessments using tools such as SORAT, IRSE licensing and competency management, signal sighting assessments, and telecoms design covering fixed backhaul, SCADA, CCTV, and passenger information systems. The company is approved as a supplier to the Railway Group through the RISQS audit regime.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Railway Signalling Design Services
• Level Crossing Design Services
• Railway Telecommunications Design Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 25 years of continuous operation as SME in UK rail industry
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• TYLinflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Kilborn Consulting Limited joined TYLin in February 2026. TYLin is a globally renowned infrastructure engineering firm with commitment to technical excellence and sustainable growth. This move marks TYLin's first strategic step into the UK rail market. Paul McSharry continues as Managing Director.
• Network RailcoreOthersKey client and industry partner for railway signalling projects. Projects include Norwich Crown Point Depot enhancement works.
• Tony Gee and PartnerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultancy partnership on railway projects including TPE Scarborough Depot and Worcester Shrub Hill Station Footbridge projects.
• AECOMcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultancy partnership for railway projects including Northumberland Line re-opening project.
• PBH RailcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for Norwich Crown Point signalling design project, GRIP 3-7.
• Colas RailminorOthersRailway industry partner mentioned in client list for potential project collaboration.
• The Spencer GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering contractor for Cambridge Depot signalling design project.
• RISQS (Railway Industry Association)coreOthersRegulatory certification body for railway industry supplier approval. Kilborn has maintained annual RISQS audit passes (2022, 2023, 2024) with 5 Star Rating Reduced Industry Minimum Requirements.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Systra: International engineering group specialising in rail and public transport, including signalling and systems design—directly comparable as a rail-specialist consultancy serving UK and European infrastructure clients.
• Tony Gee & Partners: UK-based independent civil and rail engineering consultancy with a dedicated rail division delivering multidisciplinary design including signalling support and depot schemes—directly comparable as a sub-consultant-grade rail design specialist working with TOCs and Network Rail.
• Colas Rail: UK rail contractor with in-house signalling design and consultancy capability serving Network Rail, TOCs and FOCs—listed as an existing Kilborn industry partner and competing for similar signalling and telecoms design engagements.
• PBH Rail: UK railway signalling design consultancy providing GRIP-stage signalling design services to Network Rail, TOCs and contractors—direct competitor in signalling design subcontracting and an existing Kilborn client/partner.

Broad incumbents

• Arup: Global engineering consultancy with a UK rail practice delivering signalling and systems design on major programmes—an existing training ground for Kilborn's Principal Signal Engineer and a broader incumbent competitor.
• WSP: International engineering professional services firm with substantial UK rail signalling, telecoms and systems design capability competing for Network Rail and TOC framework work.
• AtkinsRéalis (Atkins): Global multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy with one of the UK's largest rail signalling practices including ex-Network Rail Professional Heads of Signalling—competes for signalling work and employs many of the same senior signalling engineers.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with significant UK rail capability across signalling, telecoms and depot design—an existing Kilborn partner on the Northumberland Line re-opening and a broader incumbent competitor.
• Mott MacDonald: Major international engineering consultancy with a sizeable UK rail practice delivering signalling, telecoms and systems design on Network Rail programmes—competes at prime and sub-consultant tiers.
• Capita Rail (Capita Infrastructure): UK consultancy delivering signalling design, systems engineering and rail infrastructure services—competes for Network Rail and TOC signalling design work as a multi-disciplinary incumbent.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kilborn-consulting-limited

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Kilborn Consulting