ENVIRONMENTAL support services expert Fountains has taken on a specialist fleet of 18 Vauxhall Movanos to help tackle new maintenance contracts for Network Rail across the whole of southern England.

Oxfordshire-based Fountains, an AIM-listed company with turnover of £35 million and a staff of 800, operates about 400 vehicles, three-quarters of them light commercials.

The fleet of long wheelbase high-roof Movano 2.2-litre turbodiesels has been customised by specialist converters QI Van Systems, based in Telford, Shropshire, to provide living quarters for a crew of five.

Facilities include hot and cold running water, tables, microwave ovens and drying equipment, as well as storage for specialist equipment such as chainsaws, brush-cutters, and climbing equipment.

The vehicles are operated on three-year/90,000 mile contract hire agreements with Interleasing.