28.09.17
Construction begins on Kirkdale depot to maintain new Merseyrail fleet
Work has started on a new state-of-the-art depot at Kirkdale that will accommodate for Merseyrail’s new fleet.
The rolling stock, which is due to be introduced by the TOC in 2020, will be fixed and maintained at the depot.
BAM Nuttall is currently undertaking enabling works at Kirkdale, having been handed the contract by Stadler, which will manufacture and maintain Merseyrail’s fleet.
Preliminary work will kick off in October, with the depot set to be complete by 2019 in time for the arrival of new trains for testing.
The depot will boast a number of new features, including the creation of a maintenance facility for the trains, a modern driving cab simulator and a new train washing facility. It will also have stabling capacity for up to 30 trains, and new office and welfare facilities for the maintenance workers.
“The start of the work to overhaul Kirkdale depot is another step along the way to transform the Merseyrail network, moving us a stage closer to the introduction of new trains,” said Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, Merseyrail’s managing director.
“We welcome this much-needed upgrade, which will take the depot into the 21st century, equipped to maintain the trains to a very high standard.”
David Powell, Merseytravel’s programme director for the new trains, added that the new depot at Kirkdale and the refurbished depot at Birkenhead North will be essential in keeping the new trains reliable, clean and serving the Liverpool City Region well.
“The start of the ground works at Kirkdale is an exciting milestone – the first real visible sign that these new state-of-the-art trains are coming,” he continued.
Thomas Zweifel, programme director and deputy CEO UK for Stadler, also explained: “Stadler will implement in the Kirkdale depot its state-of-the-art technology and maintenance expertise.
“The significant local investment and up-skilling of local workforce are strengthening the Merseyside industrial sector and will overall result in a positive economic impact. Stadler is excited to be involved in this project that will see new trains on the Merseyrail network in 2020.”
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