Depot on track for £15m facelift

The depot will maintain Pendolino trains that are 11 carriages long

A £15m facelift to improve the Edge Hill railway depot in Merseyside has been given the go ahead.

Network Rail said the investment was prompted by plans to run more services on the west coast main line and to create longer trains.

Work has started on building a new shed on redundant sidings within the Alstom Traincare Centre depot, where Virgin's Pendolino trains are maintained.

The improvements could lead to more staff being employed, a spokesman said.

'Latest technology'

Terry Sherliker, Alstom Traincare Centre manager for Liverpool and Manchester, said: "We have been preparing for the Virgin High Frequency (VHF) timetable for almost two years, improving our processes and training our people.

"There are currently 23 maintenance staff at Edge Hill. The ramping up of services will ensure continuing employment and the new scope of facilities will enable the depot to take on new work and potentially grow the workforce."

The shed will have the latest technology including a 'rail removal' system that will enable train wheelsets to be swapped out and the major underside mounted equipment to be removed and refitted, overhead cranes and a high-level platform allowing roof access for maintenance staff.

The start of the VHF timetable on 14 December means the depot will handle seven Pendolino trains each night compared with the five it currently looks after. In addition to this, the new shed will be long enough to take the 11-carriage Pendolino trains in the future.

The first of the new trains will arrive by end of 2010 and all new vehicles will be integrated and in service by 2012.