£70m upgrades complete at railway depot

The Tyseley Traction Maintenance Depot has undergone a £70m transformation

A £70m redevelopment of a key railway depot has been completed.

The works at Tyseley, Birmingham, were part of a£1bn investment in new rolling stock and upgrades with the depot specifically modified to support its new Class 196 fleet.

The fleet entered service in 2022 and runs on the lines from Birmingham to Hereford and Shrewsbury via Wolverhampton, and between Nuneaton, Coventry and Leamington.

To accommodate the 96m (315ft) long carriages, the main shed has been extended, improved inspection facilities installed and new train lifting equipment brought in. Solar panels have been installed on the shed roof.

John Doughty, West Midlands Railway engineering director, said: "The new facilities at Tyseley mean we can efficiently maintain the new and existing train fleets based at the depot, helping to lessen the impact of disruption and improve the reliability of our service.

To keep the network running, Tyseley employs over 200 staff members from the local area including 130 technicians and 10 management positions, with 16 engineering apprentices at the site.

The completion of the work at Tyseley Traction Maintenance Depot was announced on Friday by West Midlands Railway and the Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker.

"This investment in cutting-edge equipment and a modern depot means the region's train fleets will be better looked after and kept in tip-top condition," Parker said.

"This will improve reliability, meaning fewer delays and better journeys for everyone in the West Midlands."

The three-year upgrade project was funded in partnership with Angel Trains and the Department for Transport. Building work was carried out by Spencer Rail Engineering, part of Spencer Group.