HIRD Railway Services, which was founded back in 1952, had liquidators appointed on Friday, February 27.
It is a supplier of specialist track-related products and services, including IBJs (Insulated Block Joints), heritage rail supplies, and network-approved new rails to the railway industry.
HIRD Railway Services describes itself as an “innovative” provider of “industry-leading infrastructure solutions”.
HIRD Railway Services supplied IBJs and other services to the railway industry (Image: Getty Images)
HIRD Railway Services enters liquidation with operations stopped
A notice published in the London Gazette on Wednesday, March 4, shared that Gareth Howarth and Philip Lawrence of AMS Business Recovery had been appointed as joint liquidators.
Unlike administration, which seeks to rescue a struggling company, liquidation involves closing down the operation, disposing of its assets and settling debts with creditors.
All assets and the business were transferred to voestalpine Turnout Technology UK Ltd, and the assembly of IBJs will continue under them.
The official announcement in the Gazette states: “At a general meeting of the members of the above-named Company, duly convened and held at the place, time and on the date specified above, the following resolutions were passed as a special resolution, and an ordinary resolution respectively: that the Company be wound up voluntarily, and the Joint Liquidators be appointed.”
HIRD’s main trading address is located at Clifford House, Lady Bank Drive, Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
Sustainability is said to be at the heart of its ethos, according to the HIRD website.
This was applied to everything from the manufacturing process to the products and services they supplied.
It adds: “Forming close collaborative bonds with our customers plays an equally crucial role in our environmental output.”
Other transport and travel businesses to have entered liquidation in 2025 and 2026
HIRD Railway Services has joined a list of transport and travel businesses that have entered liquidation in 2025 and 2026.
This includes a number of airlines which have ceased all flights and operations, such as:
- Blue Islands Limited (November)
- Air Kilroe Limited t/a Eastern Airways (November)
- Play Airlines (September)
Meanwhile, four UK travel companies have also ceased trading in 2026, resulting in the cancellation of flights and holiday packages to destinations around the world.
The four UK travel companies that have closed down in 2026 (so far) are:
- Regen Central Ltd
- Gold Crest Holidays
- Asiara UK Ltd
- Simply Florida Travel Ltd
All four have ceased trading, according to Companies House, and have lost their Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL).
