It may be being replaced by a new facility on the same site but its been an end of an era for the Tyne and Wear Metro as the old depot at Gosforth closed its doors for the final time. Home to the Metro for the past 43 years – and in use for 100 years in total – it is being replaced as part of a £70 million redevelopment with Stadler now moving their maintenance teams to the new facility.
Michael Richardson, Head of Fleet and Depot Replacement Programme at Nexus, said: “Moving out of the old depot marks the end of an era for Metro, and the start of its bright new future as we get ready to take delivery of our first new train from Stadler. We have looked after the Metro fleet at Gosforth for 43 years, but the facilities we were using had become dated, so the move to the new depot is long overdue.
“The Stadler team are leaving behind a building that dates back to 1923, and have moved into a new, more modern, state-of-the-art train care facility. It really is transformational for Metro and its workforce. There has been a nostalgic goodbye to the old depot all this week, but we are excited to see the new one being brought into use. The new depot will be used to care for the current Metro fleet, and the new trains as they start arriving in north east England.”
The old building was first constructed in 1923 for the London and North East Railway as a replacement for a fire damaged railway depot at Walkergate. It was converted for use by the Metro in 1980. The location allowed for Metro trains to access lines to the west near Regent Centre and to the east towards Long Benton. The Tyne and Wear Metro have been the custodians of the site for 43 years but with a new fleet of trains imminent it is time for a new state of the art facility to take on the maintenance of the fleet under the auspices of Stadler.
The new depot is designed to ensure maximum availability and reliability of the fleet. It also vastly improves the working environment making best use of natural light with all workspaces having windows. Energy efficiency lighting is being installed along with solar panels on the roof which will combine to reduce overall energy consumption.
It will become home to a wide range of activities including preventative and corrective maintenance, overhauls and train presentation. There will be storage for spare parts and material supplies and office space for training and support functions.
Paul Patrick, Managing Director of Stadler Rail Service UK, said: “Over the last century, the old Gosforth depot has served the rail network in the north east well, but to ensure that it continues to thrive, Stadler has built a fantastic new facility for the new state-of-the-art Stadler trains, which will significantly improve public transport in the region. This is a momentous occasion as we transition from the old to the new, and I am confident that the new depot and fleet will enhance the passenger experience, making rail more attractive, promoting modal shift, and contributing to regional and national environmental targets.”