Rail infrastructure specialist Spencer Group has completed the first phase of a £36m enhancement project at a busy rail maintenance depot in Birmingham.
Spencer Group is carrying out the works at Tyseley Depot on behalf of West Midlands Trains and key stakeholder Network Rail.
The project is split into three phases known as Works Packages 3, 4 and 5.
Works Package 3 has recently reached completion and involved removal of a significant section of existing track in preparation for a 30m extension to the existing Underframe Cleaning (UFC) building. Upon completion of the building, a newly configured track layout was constructed, which includes a large section of embedded track to allow for emergency vehicle access.
Works Package 4 has now commenced and predominantly includes mechanical and electrical works to the existing depot buildings including ventilation, shore supplies and mobile gantry cranes.
Works Package 5 is the most extensive of all the packages and will involve a 100m extension to the existing depot building, providing four car stabling of trains on two roads, numbers 11 and 12. This package includes new pits to both roads 11 and 12, along with all the mechanical and electrical services.
All works are being undertaken while the depot is operational and will be planned to minimise disruption at all times.
The programme of works extends to August 2025. However, as the works are being delivered in stages, parts of the depot will come into operation earlier.
Tony Wells, Pre-construction Project Director at Spencer Group, said:
“We’re delighted to be delivering this project following a successful tendering process and it’s a really collaborative development which we’re excited to be working on.
“Before we got to this stage, we worked hand-in-hand with the client to develop the scheme through a period of early contractor involvement (ECI), which allowed the project to be fully developed and costed.”
Richard Watson, Project Director at Spencer Group, added:
“Tyseley is a busy depot, particularly at night, which is why the extension is needed to accommodate longer trains.
“We have a fantastic, experienced team working on the project. Having worked with West Midlands Trains before, we’re building on our already strong relationship with them.
“We constructed a storage building on the same site about three years ago and completed fuelling aprons on the carriage sidings on tracks 13, 14 and 15. This included new canopies, pits and a new fuelling system, providing a covered area to refuel the trains.”
The Tyseley Depot enhancement works are the latest in a series of similar works delivered by Spencer Group.
The company specialises in delivering complex engineering solutions across a range of disciplines, tailored to its clients’ requirements, from the enhancement of existing facilities to the design and build of entire new projects.
Spencer Group understands the needs of the rail sector and has proven experience in keeping depots running smoothly throughout the duration of a project while work takes place.
Gavin Norton, Senior Project Manager at West Midlands Trains, said:
“The fundamental reason for this work is because our fleet is longer. The depot is currently capable of housing 3 carriage trains at the moment, and our new fleet of trains are 4 carriages long, so extending the shed is critical to future operations.
“This work will help reduce our carbon footprint as the new shore supplies will mean our trains’ critical systems can powered for testing and commissioning without the need to leave their engines running.
“We have similar sized projects on our electric fleet elsewhere, but this is the biggest scheme on our diesel fleet.
“We have an excellent working relationship with Spencer Group and everyone in the team is very well thought of. We’re delighted to be able to continue that relationship.”
Take a look at the progress video below –
