Stadler completes new depot for new Tyne and Wear Metro fleet

Stadler has finished building a new state of the art depot, which will accommodate the fleet of 46 METRO trains being manufactured for the Tyne and Wear Metro. 

 

Ahead of the entry into service of the new Tyne and Metro trains, Stadler has completed the project to construct a new depot at Gosforth in Newcastle. The purpose-built facility features inspection roads and pits, a separate wheel lathe building and a wash-plant to clean train exteriors. There is a storage areas for spare parts and materials, as well as office space for training and support functions. 

 

The facility also has a component drop to enhance maintenance efficiency, monorail cranes on both light 

maintenance roads and an overhead crane on the heavy maintenance roads for lifting roof components. A 

room dedicated to managing train movements digitally has been strategically positioned to have a bird’s eye view of the depot. 

 

To minimise carbon emissions, the new depot makes use of premium insulation and has solar panels on the roof. It makes best use of natural light, providing an attractive environment for employees. Water is recycled on site and used for train washing facilities. Even the old depot has been recycled. Its materials have been transformed into tracks and even the foundations of the new depot. 

 

Paul Patrick, Managing Director for Stadler Rail Service UK, commented: “After three years of hard work, the 

new facility is now an asset to the local area and one that local residents and the wider community can be 

proud of. It has been built to a very high standard, with quality and precision at its heart, and its technologically sophisticated features will mean that trains can be maintained efficiently and speedily. This promotes an efficient, smooth-running railway for the benefit of passengers, supporting regional jobs and growth and helping the north east to flourish.”