Posted 24th April 2018 | No Comments

Work starts on new depot for Wigan

The existing site at Wigan

The existing site at Wigan

WORK has begun on building a new depot for passenger trains on the site of a freight yard in Wigan.

Springs Branch has been a railway location for many years, but some of the land is now needed for a new depot which will cater for 32 trains, 24 of which will be electric.

The site is well positioned to provide access to the railway network in north west England, and it is due to be open by December next year. The development will include staff accommodation, train washing and fuelling equipment.

Network Rail scheme project manager Lauren Jones said: “We’re investing £46 million to enhance an existing site by the West Coast Main Line by building train maintenance facilities for Northern.

“This new depot, which forms part of the Great North Rail Project, not only delivers a jobs boost for Greater Manchester, but the facilities it will provide will help transform passenger journeys.”

Northern said the new depot will be a ‘key part’ of its wider modernisation programme. Engineering director Ben Akroyd said: “By 2020 we will have retired all Pacers, refurbished our entire fleet and, of course, will have introduced our brand new electric and diesel trains. We will need state-of-the-art facilities to look after these trains and Springs Branch is a key part of this.

"We look forward to working with Network Rail on this project which is clear evidence, not only of partnership railway in action, but also of the economic benefit the railway brings to the region.”