Ewan’s story at KGJ Price started on the shop floor as an apprentice machinist, manufacturing switches and crossings from scratch. Over ten years and several roles later, including Manufacturing Production Manager, he is now Business and Product Development Manager.
Tell us about KGJ Price Railway Contractors. What does the company do and what makes it stand out?
KGJ Price has been a cornerstone of railway contracting in the UK since 1983, The company was initially founded to serve the coal and steel industries of South Wales however over the past four decades we have evolved considerably. Today we offer an end to end solution covering the design, manufacture, installation, maintenance and repair of permanent way across all areas of rail infrastructure, whether its industrial, mainline, heritage or narrow gauge sectors. What truly sets us apart is the breadth of what we do in house, from fabrication and materials supply through to logistics using our own fleet. We’re not a company that farms out the critical elements of a project; our teams have the expertise to own a job from survey and design through to handback and ongoing maintenance. That continuity of accountability is something clients genuinely value, and it’s why so many of them keep coming back to us.
How did you get started in the rail industry, and what drew you to a business development role?
I started at KGJ Price as an apprentice machinist, manufacturing switches and crossings on the shop floor. That hands on foundation shaped everything that followed. I progressed through the business to Manufacturing Production Manager, which gave me a deep understanding of our capabilities and how we deliver quality. Moving into business and product development was almost a natural next step. It sits right at the intersection of that technical knowledge and commercial strategy. You need to understand what the engineers and site teams are capable of, and at the same time understand what the market needs. Getting those two things aligned is something I find genuinely rewarding, and having come up through manufacturing and site environments means I am able to have those meaningful conversations at every level.
What is your role within KGJ Price and what does a typical working week look like for you?
As Business and Product Development Manager, my focus is on identifying growth opportunities, deepening relationships with existing clients and partners, and developing the products and services our business brings to market. No two weeks are the same. On any given day I might be reviewing a tender or working through a commercial proposal with the team; the next I’m out visiting a client site, attending an industry event, or working with our operations team to scope a new service offering. There’s also a lot of time spent on market intelligence understanding where the industry is heading, what our competitors are doing, and where we can position KGJ Price most effectively. It’s a role that requires both strategic thinking and the ability to roll your sleeves up and get into the detail.
What has been your proudest achievement or standout project in recent years?
One that stands out is our involvement in the South Wales Metro Core Valley Lines programme, a transformative infrastructure upgrade for the region. Being able to play a meaningful role in a project of that scale, one that directly improves connectivity and mobility for communities across South Wales is something the whole team is proud of. Beyond the technical delivery, what made it memorable was the way it brought together multiple organisations and disciplines working collaboratively toward a shared goal. We also contributed materials and expertise to a track training facility at HMP Prescoed, which used upcycled assets from that same programme. Seeing redundant rail infrastructure repurposed to help offenders gain qualifications and employment opportunities was genuinely moving. Success for us isn’t just measured in metres of track laid, it’s about the broader impact of what we do.
What types of products and services do you offer, and how has this evolved over the years?
The full breadth of what we offer has expanded significantly from our roots in industrial track installation. Today we cover design, survey and engineering assurance, permanent way installation and renewals across plain line and switches and crossings, maintenance and reactive repair, materials supply and in house fabrication. We’ve also developed strong logistic capabilities with our own specialist vehicles which gives us an operational flexibility that many contractors rely on third parties for. The evolution has been driven largely by client demands and alongside clients and a supply chain we trust deeply. They naturally want to bring you into more of their work, and that has pushed us to develop capabilities we perhaps wouldn’t have prioritised otherwise. The result is a genuinely broad offering that allows us to act as a single source partner for a wide range of rail requirements.
How passionate are you about sustainability, and what steps is KGJ Price taking to operate more responsibly?
Sustainability is something I care about both personally and professionally, and it’s an area where we’ve put real effort in recent years. In practical terms, this means actively managing our carbon footprint, working with our supply chain to promote low carbon solutions, minimising waste on site, ensuring materials are recycled wherever possible, and protecting biodiversity in the areas where we work. The HMP Prescoed project is a good example of sustainability in a broader sense, upcycling redundant infrastructure to create social value. We’re also mindful that the railway itself is one of the most sustainable forms of mass transport available, so as a contractor maintaining and improving that infrastructure, we see ourselves as part of the solution to the UK’s decarbonisation challenge. There is always more to do, but the direction of travel is clear.
What are the biggest challenges currently facing the rail contracting sector, and how is KGJ Price responding?
The skills shortage is probably the most acute challenge in the here and now. The pipeline of work coming through Network Rail, Transport for Wales and other clients is gaining strength, but finding experienced, competent people to deliver it is genuinely difficult. We invest heavily in training and development, and we’ve been active in outreach programmes to attract people into the industry. Funding certainty is another challenge. When programmes are delayed or reprofiled, it creates real disruption for contractors who have mobilised resources. And then there’s the ongoing pressure on commercial margins, which requires us to be smarter and more efficient in how we deliver. Our response has been to focus on what we do best, deepen relationships with clients who value quality and reliability over the cheapest price, and continue building our in house capabilities so that we become less exposed to supply chain volatility.
With Great British Railways on the horizon, how do you anticipate your position in the supply chain changing?
The creation of Great British Railways is a significant structural change, and like most contractors, we’re watching its development closely. In principle, having a single, integrated body responsible for track and train should create more coherent long term planning, which would be welcome. For us, the question is whether that translates into more stable, longer term contract frameworks that enable specialist contractors like KGJ Price to invest with confidence. If GBR can move away from the short term, transactional procurement that has characterised parts of the industry, that would be genuinely positive. We would also hope to see greater recognition of the value that experienced and specialist SME contractors bring. The industry needs the agility and expertise that companies like ours offer, and those qualities should be reflected in how the supply chain is structured and rewarded.
How do you think technology is changing the way rail infrastructure is designed, built and maintained?
The pace of change is remarkable. Digital design tools, BIM, remote monitoring technology, and drones for survey and inspection have all become mainstream rather than cutting edge. Condition based maintenance, enabled by sensors and data analytics, is allowing infrastructure managers to move away from time based maintenance cycles toward interventions that are genuinely driven by asset condition.
That’s both more cost effective and safer. For a contractor like KGJ Price, the challenge and the opportunity is to stay ahead of these changes, both in terms of our own capabilities and in terms of the services we can offer clients. We’re investing in upskilling our teams and exploring how new tools can improve the efficiency and quality of our work on site.
How does KGJ Price approach client relationships and what does good collaboration look like in practice?
For us, good collaboration starts with understanding what a client actually needs, rather than just what they’ve asked for in a specification. That requires genuine dialogue, listening carefully, asking the right questions, and sometimes challenging assumptions. Once we’re on a project, we work hard to maintain absolute transparency, communicate proactively when issues arise, and bring solutions rather than problems. Many of our strongest client relationships have developed because of how we’ve handled difficulties, not just because of smooth deliveries. We also think of collaboration as extending beyond the immediate client. Working effectively with other contractors, consultants and stakeholders on a project is essential. Rail infrastructure is complex, and the best outcomes come from everyone pulling in the same direction.
How can the rail industry tackle its skills shortage, and what is KGJ Price doing to attract and retain talent?
The skills shortage is a systemic issue that requires a similarly systemic response. The industry as a whole needs to do a better job of making rail visible as a career choice. Particularly to young people and to people from underrepresented backgrounds. T he work is skilled, meaningful and in many cases well paid, but it’s not always perceived that way. At KGJ Price, we invest in structured training and development, we support our people to gain and maintain their competency cards, and we’ve deliberately built a culture where people feel valued and have a visible pathway to progress. I’m a great example of what that pathway can look like. I started as an apprentice here and have grown with the business over more than a decade. Retention is just as important as recruitment and if people feel respected and see a future with you, they stay.
Where do you see KGJ Price and the wider rail industry in the next ten years?
For KGJ Price, I see a business that has grown both in scale and in the sophistication of what it offers. More technology, more data capability, a broader geographic footprint, but with the same values and quality focus that have sustained us for over 40 years. For the wider industry, I’m optimistic. Rail is central to the UK’s decarbonisation agenda, to regional economic development, and to the aspiration for better connected and more liveable cities. The investment needed is substantial, and there will be challenges along the way whether it’s political, financial or technical. But the direction of travel is clear, and the industry has the talent and the determination to get there. If we can resolve the structural challenges around funding certainty and skills supply, the next decade could be genuinely transformative.
What role do heritage and narrow gauge railways play in KGJ Price’s portfolio, and why do you think preserving these assets matters?
Heritage and narrow gauge railways are a really important part of what we do, and honestly, they’re one of the most enjoyable parts of the business to be involved in. These lines are living pieces of history and they matter enormously to the communities around them, to tourism, and to the volunteers and enthusiasts who give so much to keep them running. The track engineering challenges can be quite different from mainline work, and our team genuinely relishes that variety. For me personally, having come up through manufacturing S&C, there’s something special about making components for a heritage railway knowing they could be in service for decades. Preserving these assets isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about maintaining a connection to where rail came from, and that feels important to us.
KGJ Price recently passed its RISQS audit again, what does that accreditation mean to you and to your clients?
Passing the RISQS audit is something the whole team works hard to achieve, and something the senior team is incredibly proud of every time we do it. For clients, it’s a clear signal that we meet the rigorous standards required to work safely and competently in the rail environment. It removes a layer of uncertainty when they’re deciding who to appoint. For us internally, the process is valuable in its own right. It keeps us honest, ensures our systems and procedures are properly maintained, and gives us a structured opportunity to identify areas for improvement. In an industry where safety and compliance are a non-negotiable, accreditations like RISQS aren’t just a box ticking exercise. They’re a demonstration of the standards we hold ourselves to every single day.
How do you see the relationship between principal contractors and specialist SME subcontractors evolving, and what would a healthier supply chain look like?
The relationship has improved in some areas but there’s still a way to go. The best principal contractors I’ve worked with treat specialist SMEs as genuine partners. They involve us early in the design and planning process, share relevant information openly, and recognise that our skillsets and expertise add real value beyond just delivering a scope of work. What I’d like to see more of is longer term frameworks that allow specialist contractors to invest with confidence, rather than short term, lowest price procurement that can squeeze out quality and innovation. A healthier supply chain is also one where payment terms are fair and prompt. That matters enormously to smaller businesses. When the whole chain works well together, clients get better outcomes.
KGJ PRICE RAILWAY CONTRACTORS LTD
KGJ Price Railway Contractors Ltd is a UK-based specialist rail contractor founded in 1983. Originally established to serve the coal and steel industries of South Wales, the company has expanded
considerably over four decades and now operates across mainline, industrial, heritage and narrow gauge sectors throughout the UK.
Want to know more about KGJ Price Railway Contractors? Visit: www.kgjprice.co.uk
