Magherafelt firm wins major contract to supply carpets in Enterprise train

Translink has appointed Magherafelt based company Floors for Living (NI) Ltd as the carpet supplier for the cross-border Enterprise train service which is currently undergoing a £12.2million refurbishment. In this £90,000 contract, Floors for Living (NI) will supply two types of carpets; saloon carpet being manufactured by Ulster Carpets in Portadown and vestibule carpet manufactured by Forbo flooring based in Derbyshire. The chosen specialist carpets meet the robust and durable requirements of a busy railway environment while offering a modern and attractive design and colour scheme. Pictured during a factory tour of Ulster Carpets in Portadown are Transport Minister Danny Kennedy MLA, Bernard Hughes, Managing Director Of Floors for Living Ltd, Ian Campbell, Translink Head of Rail Operations and (front) Elaine Patterson, Ulster Carpets Contract Sales Director. Picture by Brian Morrison.

In a contract worth around £90,000, Floors for Living (NI) will supply two types of carpets - saloon carpet being manufactured by Ulster Carpets in Portadown and vestibule carpet manufactured by Forbo flooring based in Derbyshire.

The chosen specialist carpets meet the robust and durable requirements of a busy railway environment while offering a modern and attractive design and colour scheme.

The refurbishment, totalling £12.2m, will improve the rail journey experience between Belfast and Dublin and is due for completion by the end of this year.

Work has been financed through the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) with support from the Department for Regional Development and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) in Ireland.

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy MLA, said the investment was another important step forward in the development of this flagship train service which was first launched in 1997.

“The major overhaul programme is crucial to ensure the long term reliability of this cross-border rail service which offers a vital transport link supporting trade and tourism,” he said.

“We were well aware that the overhaul of the Enterprise fleet carpet required not only a carpet that reflects the design and looks of a modern railway carriage but more importantly the quality and practical needs of a busy transport environment.

“We did have several options as to which manufacturers product to offer, all of which met the specification, however, because of Ulster Carpets worldwide reputation and expertise, and the fact that both ourselves and they are based in Northern Ireland, we took, what proved to be the correct decision to work alongside them”.