Low-tech depots must bite the bullet

Low-tech depots must bite the bullet

Both in the UK and overseas, train maintenance depot operators who fail to invest in technologically advanced equipment face relegation to the ‘also rans’, an industry insider has warned. Richard Carr of Sheffield-based heavy-lifting and depot systems supplier Mechan points to the new generation of traincare centres operated by the likes of Siemens and Bombardier, which have set new standards that others will have to emulate if they want to survive in the long term.

“The maturing privatised rail industry has made great strides in modern vehicle design and infrastructure upgrades,” Richard Carr asserts. “Safety issues, plus the financial penalties for late-running trains, mean more emphasis has rightly been placed on the efficiency of the networks.

“This dash for efficiency includes focusing on the speed and quality of routine daily servicing and heavier maintenance. Rail industry decision-makers need to recognize how far ahead the new generation of vehicle maintenance depot has advanced, thanks to shrewd investment in the latest depot equipment to reach the market.