Swindon to get £3m factory train depot

A £3m factory train depot is to be built in Swindon as part of Network Rail's £800m plan to electrify the line from London Paddington to Cardiff.

The new depot will house a £55m "factory train" which it is said will install overhead power lines along the track with the "minimum of disruption".

A new independent business unit to "take control of the renewed Western route" will also be based in Swindon.

Patrick Hallgate, from Network Rail, said it was ideally located.

Mr Hallgate, Network Rail Western's new route managing director, said: "Swindon is our regional head quarters.

"We've got about 500 staff here and control all aspects of the route from Paddington down to Penzance.

"The factory train allows us to put the wires up in the air at a speed which allows us to run trains and minimise disruption throughout the years which the project is being undertaken.

"And Swindon is ideally located - it's in the middle of the route and it allows us to get from one end to the other causing minimum disruption."