22.01.18
Plans finalised for GWR’s new £40m Exeter depot
Contract negotiations have been completed on plans for a £40m train maintenance depot in Exeter developed by GWR, Network Rail and the DfT.
The new depot will be built at GWR’s current Exeter Olds View Depot site, expanding the capacity of the facility in order to accommodate a larger fleet across Devon and Cornwall.
Located adjacent to Exeter St. Davids station, the new building will have the ability to provide enhanced modern servicing, cleaning and maintenance facilities, used to support the new trains.
GWR’s west regional development manager, Matt Barnes commented: “With brand new electric trains in operation on suburban London services and bi-mode Intercity Express Trains coming to the mainline in Devon and Cornwall this summer, this depot will allow us to expand the regional train fleet at Exeter - providing more carriages, and more frequent services to the area.”
Construction work is due to start this spring and be completed by early summer 2019.
The operator says new electric trains in London and Thames Valley area, and new Intercity Express Trains across the GWR mainline network will enable significant improvements in capacity on mainline, regional and local suburban services.
It launched the first of its new 45-train Electrostar fleet earlier this month, with the stock meant to replace the current 25-year-old trains operating across its network.
However, there have been some problems with the operators attempts to improve quality and capacity on its services. The debut journey of the GWR Class 800 Intercity Express trains was marred with problems, including a delayed launch due to software issues and problems with the carriages’ air conditioning units.
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