Diamond Seating Limited (DSL) is a mass passenger seating overhaul and refurbishment company. Founded in 1976 DSL has grown to be one of the largest suppliers of overhauled public transport seating in the UK.

Seat refurbishment for the railway sector

DSL provides a range of services for the rail sector, including a full train refurbishment programme.

The comapny also offers seat stripping and maintenance including the removal of covers and / or foam from seats, and rebuilding seats with new foam, interliner and moquette cover.

Refurbishment of the driver and second man seats and of the drivers cab lining is also available. The seats can be fitted back into the train at the depot.

All DSL work conforms to Railway Group Standards.
DSL are currently working with a major leather supplier in the UK to be able to supply leather to Cat1b status.
DSL has recently added corrosion and welding to its list of services.
After refurbishment DSL can replace upgraded seats at the depot.
DSL were successful in winning and maintaining a contract to overhaul all the seats on Virgin Trains East Coast's two fleets of trains.
The work entails stripping each seat down to its base board, applying all new moulded and developed graphite foams, fitting a compliant fire barrier to the first-class seating and fitting moquette covers to standard seats along with leather covers to all first-class seats.
DSL aims to deliver its products and services on time.
The programme on Virgin Trains involves overhauling 600 seats a week.
Since DSL introduced railway expertise into their team the company has trebled its turnover.
DSL has worked with Arriva and Wabtec, as well as Virgin trains.

As well as seat replacement, Diamond Seating can also provide professional cleaning services, powder coating and glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) work, metal fabrication facilities and tables, seat shells and all ancillary items.

All operations conform to the current Railway Group Standard.

Corrosion and welding services

DSL is currently undergoing testing and approvals for a new modular seating design as part of its portfolio development.

This is a very different manufacturing process with infinite options to make the operator’s seat unique to them, while the core of the seat will be a standard design with off-the-shelf components.

To satisfy the demand of train owners and operators, DSL also offers corrosion and welding services. As the rail industry continues to grow, Diamond Seating will offer new solutions to public passenger services.

Certification and Compliance

With new regulations and materials being requested in the ever more complex interiors of trains, DSL have been proactive in hiring an experienced rolling stock compliance engineer.

In addition to working with Arriva Northern and helping them achieve a bench mark status for their fleets, DSL are working with a major leather supplier to produce a product that will achieve Cat1b fire certification, the timetable for this indicates a positive result by the end of 2016. This will be a first within the industry.

About Diamond Seating Ltd

DSL was established in Doncaster, UK and initially overhauled domestic and retail soft furnishings. It was relocated in 2005 to a new facility in Sheffield.

For the last ten years the business has been growing organically. In 2015, DSL recruited specific railway experts and it has since trebled its turnover.

DSL now works with many customers, including Virgin East Coast, Arriva Northern, Arriva Train Care, First Group, GWR, SWT, Wabtec Rail, Unipart Rail, Scotrail, Porterbrook, Southern Railway, Croydon Tram, Brodie Engineering, Knorr Bremse and many Heritage Railways, Atlantic Design, DG Design. SNC Lavelin.