Wheel Lathes

Cairn Cross Rail Wheel Lathe Solutions

Cairn Cross designs and builds bespoke rail wheel lathe solutions for UK depots, delivering precision-engineered systems to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant rolling stock maintenance.

What Are Wheel Lathe Solutions?

Wheel lathe solutions are precision-engineered systems used to re-profile train wheels, ensuring rolling stock maintains correct profiles, smooth operation, and safety on the tracks.

Cairn Cross builds bespoke wheel lathe solutions tailored to the UK rail environment, designed to:

Ensure accurate wheel re-profiling for all rolling stock types
Reduce wear and tear on wheels and rails
Enhance safety and operational efficiency in depots
Integrate seamlessly with depot maintenance workflows

By building complete solutions, Cairn Cross guarantees quality, precision, and reliability.

Key Features and Benefits

Precision wheel re-profiling: High-accuracy machining ensures consistent wheel profiles, improving ride quality and rolling stock safety.
Efficient depot operation: Integrated systems allow wheel maintenance to be completed quickly, reducing downtime and maximising fleet availability.
Safety-led design: Purpose-built layouts minimise manual handling and improve safe access for depot maintenance teams.
Seamless depot integration: Designed to connect with existing jacking systems, inspection pits, and walkways, reducing installation complexity and disruption.
Bespoke system layouts: Custom-designed solutions ensure compatibility with individual depot footprints, track configurations, and fleet requirements.
Robust, long-life construction: Manufactured from high-quality materials to withstand the demands of UK rail depots and support long-term, low-maintenance operation.

Applications Across the UK Rail Projects

Cairn Cross wheel lathe solutions are used in:

Maintenance hubs and rail depots
High-throughput operational depots
Fleet maintenance and refurbishment facilities
Safety-critical inspection facilities

Our bespoke wheel lathe solutions ensure rolling stock safety, performance, and operational efficiency.

Cairn Cross is a specialist builder of wheel lathe systems, offering:

Custom-built, depot-specific designs – fully tailored to site and fleet requirements
Precision engineering – ensures smooth, safe, and reliable wheel re-profiling
Integration with depot infrastructure – compatible with jacking facilities, walkways, and inspection pits
Compliance with UK rail safety standards – built to meet regulatory requirements
Durable, low-maintenance systems – designed for long-term depot operations

Cairn Cross provides a full suite of wheel lathe services, focused on building complete, integrated systems:

Design and engineering of bespoke wheel lathe solutions
Fabrication and assembly of machinery
Installation at rail depots and maintenance hubs
Integration with depot infrastructure – platforms, jacking, and walkways

These services ensure end-to-end delivery of reliable, precise wheel lathe systems.

Cairn Cross builds and installs wheel lathe solutions through a structured, depot-focused approach:

Depot survey and operational assessment
Custom design and engineering of the wheel lathe system
Fabrication and assembly of machinery components
On-site installation and integration with depot infrastructure

Why Choose Cairn Cross as a Wheel Lathe Builder

Cairn Cross is a trusted UK builder of bespoke wheel lathe solutions, combining engineering expertise, depot knowledge, and precision fabrication skills.

Depots have relied on Cairn Cross for over 30 years to deliver end-to-end wheel lathe systems that are safe, accurate, and fully integrated, improving rail safety, efficiency, and operational performance.

Trafford Manchester Train Wheel Lathe Cairn Cross

Alstom Wembley Train Wheel Lathe Replacement by Cairn Cross

Toton Rail Depot Wheel Lathe

Nevile-Hill-Underfloor-Wheel-Lathe

Central Rivers Wheel Lathe Cairn Cross

Craigentinny-Underfloor-Wheel-Lathe-Cairn-Cross-Installation

Craigentinny Underfloor Wheel Lathe Installation

Turnkey design and build contract to replace a single-headed wheel lathe with a new single headed Hegenscheidt CNC wheel lathe requiring actuations to the existing structure.

Customer

Network Rail

Sector

Rail Infrastructure

Neville Hill Wheel Lathe

Project to deliver the civils and foundations for the installation of the Network Rail owned Wheel Lathe.

Customer

RMTS

Sector

Rail Infrastructure

Central Rivers Wheel Lathe

A Design & Build project to supply a brand new tandem wheel lathe facility with new building and new p-way siding.

Customer

Bombardier/Alstom Rail

Sector

Rail Infrastructure

Toton Wheel Lathe

DB Schenker required a new U2000-400 underfloor wheel lathe at Toton to replace the current ageing Lathe. Cairn Cross removed the old Lathe and altered the existing pit to accept the new Lathe.

Customer

DB Cargo UK

Sector

Rail Infrastructure

Stoke-on-Trent Wheel Lathe

Depot upgrades, including a new rail Wheel Lathe, foundations and external concrete access roads civil engineering works.

Customer

DB Cargo UK

Sector

Rail Infrastructure

Trafford Wheel Lathe

A Design & Build project to install a new Wheel Lathe, swarf conveyor and associated works.

Customer

Transport for Greater Manchester

Sector

Rail Infrastructure

Wimbledon Wheel Lathe

Cairn Cross Civil Engineering Limited completed a replacement of a rail depot pit drop and train wheel lathe.

Customer

South West Trains

Sector

Rail Infrastructure

Longsight Wheel Lathe Installation

Replacement wheel lathe and maintenance pit reconstruction.

Customer

Alstom

Sector

Rail Infrastructure

Wembley Wheel Lathe Replacement

A design and build project with Cairn Cross as the main contractor replacing a wheel lathe and reconstructing a maintenance pit.

Customer

Alstom

Sector

Rail Infrastructure