Three Bridges Depot recently welcomed Luke Taylor, Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam, for a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility responsible for maintaining the Thameslink Class 700 fleet. The visit highlighted the critical role the depot plays in ensuring reliable passenger services across London and the South East.
Operated by Siemens Mobility on behalf of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the depot maintains all 115 Class 700 trains that form the backbone of the Thameslink network. The visit provided an opportunity to demonstrate how advanced engineering, digital innovation and workforce development are supporting the delivery of safe, dependable rail services.
During his tour, Luke Taylor met engineers, technicians and depot colleagues responsible for maintaining the fleet, gaining insight into the specialist skills required to support a modern railway operation. Discussions also focused on Siemens Mobility's investment in future talent through apprenticeships and early careers programmes, with 15 apprentices currently working on the Thameslink contract and 181 apprentices across Siemens Mobility UK.
A key focus of the visit was the use of digital technology to improve fleet performance. Siemens Mobility showcased Railigent, its intelligent data analytics platform, which enables real-time monitoring of train systems. By analysing operational data, the system supports a predictive maintenance approach, allowing technicians to identify and address potential issues before they impact service reliability.
The technology is particularly effective in monitoring key components such as doors and HVAC systems, helping maintenance teams carry out targeted inspections and interventions that reduce downtime and optimise fleet availability.
Luke Taylor, Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton and Cheam, said:
"It was a pleasure to visit Siemens’ Thameslink Depot at Three Bridges to see the great work being done to keep the trains so many depend on safe and presentable.”
So many Londoners depend on these services to run efficiently and safely, so I was particularly glad to see the level of effort being put on using innovative new technologies and smart data solutions to monitor the network in real time.
The future growth of our city depends on a bedrock of proactive maintenance and forward-thinking engineering like this, so thank you to the Siemens team for their hard work keeping London moving."
Lena Voorbach, Finance Director, Rolling Stock and Customer Services at Siemens Mobility UK & Ireland, said:
"I am delighted Luke Taylor MP had the opportunity to see the incredible work our Three Bridges team does to keep the Thameslink fleet running reliably for the thousands of passengers who depend on it every day. It was fantastic to show Luke around the depot and demonstrate the digital tools like Railigent giving us valuable data from the train, which enable us to keep optimising performance for this fleet. It is so important that we continue to invest in our people and technology, as their skills and expertise will drive the innovation needed to keep our communities connected for the long term."
As passenger demand continues to grow, facilities such as Three Bridges Depot remain essential to keeping the railway moving. Through continued investment in technology, infrastructure and people, Siemens Mobility is helping to deliver reliable, efficient and sustainable rail services while developing the next generation of railway professionals.
Image credit: Siemens Mobility
