Work on the major redevelopment/rebuild of the Tyne and Wear Metro Depot at Gosforth has hit another milestone with the completion of the final stabling sidings for the new fleet of trains currently being built by Stadler in Switzerland.
A total of 17 new sidings for train stabling have been created. This includes the final eight sidings which have been installed where the now demolished old maintenance sheds once stood. The installation of new overhead lines, signalling equipment, walkways and lighting is now in progress. There will be a line closure in January which will allow the contact wire to be installed and energised to allow the sidings to be entered in service.
Michael Richardson, Head of Metro Fleet and Depot Replacement at Nexus, said: “I’m pleased to say that all of the new sidings are in place at the new £70m Gosforth depot. These areas will be vital for stabling all 46 of the new Metro trains when more of the new units start arriving from the Stadler assembly line in Switzerland. The new Metro depot is nearing completion. The new train wash is in place and by February the project is planned to be completed.”
Gosforth Depot has been home to the Tyne and Wear Metro for 43 years and is currently undergoing a £70 million rebuild to provide a modern facility improving conditions not only for the storage and maintenance of trains but also a more pleasant working environment for staff.
Work on the depot has been undertaken by VolkerFitzpatrick. Clinton Smith is the VolkerFitzpatrick Project Manager: “We’re proud to be completing the development of a world-class depot. The complexities of this type of project were many and varied, not least as a result of the need for the works to be programmed around the planned day-to-day operations of the depot, providing servicing and stabling facilities for the Metro system, while the construction works were taking place. The success of this project relied not only upon careful coordination, planning and management of all the multidisciplined subcontract delivery team, but also the commitment, capabilities, expertise and collaboration provided by those subcontractors in working as a group to ensure the success of this large-scale project, alongside both Stadler and Nexus.”