ScotRail has announced the opening of a new engineering depot at Cadder near Glasgow, continuing with ‘Fit For The Future’ investments.
The new depot is located between Bishopbriggs and Lenzie on the Edinburgh and Glasgow line.
Cadder was identified as the ideal location to accommodate up to six High Speed Trains (HSTs) due to its proximity to Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley.
The yard at the site can be expanded if extra space is needed to accommodate more rolling stock in the future.
The £33m investment was paid for by Transport Scotland and managed by Network Rail.
Moving forward the site will be managed by ScotRail on behalf of the rail network.
The new depot includes three new service platforms and a new modular building to accommodate staff from ScotRail, Network Rail and their supply chain.
By sharing the site of the new depot with Network Rail the capital and ongoing operating cost has been reduced.
The depot at Cadder will bring the following benefits:
- Shifting the burden of stabling HSTs away from Perth, Haymarket and Eastfield Depots.
- Reducing emissions and noise for residents who live close to those other yards.
- A reduction in the number of unproductive early morning and late night HST train miles.
ScotRail’s engineers and contractors ran 7.5km of cable and poured around 1200m3 of concrete as part of the construction.
Three kilometres of new track was also put down.
This included 3,300 sleepers and a 1km long, three metres high steel security fence has been built.
The yard includes a new office facility for Rail Systems Alliance Scotland staff which is a partnership between Network Rail, Babcock and Arcadis.
The two-story office will also operate day and night and accommodate ScotRail HST Depot staff.
ScotRail commented on the opening of the new depot.
Kirsty Devlin, ScotRail Head of Projects & PMO said: “I am delighted that Cadder depot has opened.
“It means that we can accommodate more HSTs in the central belt… and pressure will be taken off existing depots in Perth, Haymarket and Eastfield.
“This is another example of the massive investment we are making to transform Scotland’s Railway into a network that is fit for the future and that our customers deserve.”
Graeme Dey, Minister for Transport commented on the benefits the new depot will offer.
Mr Dey said: “This impressive new depot, funded by the Scottish Government, will service the requirements of the refurbished HST fleet.
“It offers real benefits including supporting over 200 existing jobs while also creating the potential for up to 25 new roles.
“I have also been impressed by the collaboration displayed between Network Rail, the Rail Systems Alliance, ScotRail and the various contractors.”
