Train depot upgrades completed to enhance reliability

Northern has upgraded its TrainCare Centre in Hull to help improve service reliability for passengers.

The work at the Hull Botanic Gardens facility is designed to increase the centre’s maintenance and servicing capacity, helping keep more trains on the tracks across Yorkshire.

The train operator’s Class 170 trains will be based at the depot along with the team responsible for their routine servicing, maintenance, upkeep and repair; much of which is carried out at night to keep trains in passenger service during the day.

New modern equipment has been installed, including a crane, train roof access platforms and jacks as well as an additional fuelling road.

The train shed at the depot has also been given a new roof, with Northern and Network Rail working together on the project.

Arron Ibbotson, TrainCare Centre manager at Hull Botanic Gardens, has led a recruitment process which now sees him lead a team of 30 who have re-located from existing positions and includes external recruits that have joined the Northern team.

Four maintenance teams are now in place to deliver the Class 170 maintenance plan and overnight servicing including work for Hull Trains and TransPennine Express.

A new driving team has also been recruited and trained to deliver operational working practices to ensure maintenance work is delivered back to the Northern team at Hull on time.

Jack Commandeur, engineering director at Northern, said: “We want to make sure we can get as many trains as possible in service for customers and to do that we need modern engineering facilities and expert technicians, engineers and operators.

“I am confident our improved maintenance centres will deliver more trains into service on a daily basis and help improve services for our customers.”