West Midlands Railway (WMR) and Transport for Wales (TfW) have completed a GBP3 million infrastructure upgrade at the Shrewsbury maintenance depot in England, aimed at enhancing service reliability and supporting the introduction of modern rolling stock on the line.
The investment forms part of a wider initiative to improve operations along the Shrewsbury route, following the deployment of WMR’s Class 196 trains between Shrewsbury and Birmingham in 2022 and the introduction of TfW’s Class 197 fleet in 2023.
The enhancements were presented to local authority representatives and rail industry stakeholders during a site visit on Friday 23 May.
The improvements include smart lighting, expanded fuelling and servicing capacity, safer walking routes, and refurbished staff facilities. The upgrade also created three new full-time positions, contributing to employment in the local area.
“We are committed to investing in our depots across the network, so we can provide our maintenance and presentation team with the facilities they need to improve the train fleet and therefore continue to enhance the passenger experience.
As a key employer across the West Midlands, we are pleased to have recruited three new technicians, allowing us to improve performance and ensure our fleet is in tip-top condition when it starts its day in service,” John Doughty, Engineering Director at West Midlands Railway, said.
The Shrewsbury improvements are part of a broader GBP1 billion investment by WMR and its sister operator, London Northwestern Railway, in new trains and infrastructure. Additional depot upgrade work is underway at Tyseley in Birmingham, where the Class 196 fleet is maintained.
“Shrewsbury is a key location on the Wales and Borders network for Transport for Wales and this multi-million-pound investment is vital for the roll out of our brand-new Class 197 trains on the Cambrian Line, as part of an GBP800 million investment in new trains on behalf of the Welsh Government,” Arnaud Dewally, Project Manager at Transport for Wales, said/
“This investment is so welcome and long overdue on our local services to Birmingham. Residents write to me on a regular basis about the reliability of local services which are essential lifelines for commuters, students, tourists and businesses alike.
The recent upgrades show significant improvement for passengers and I know from my own experience on these routes that there are more seats, more facilities, more space for disability access and all in all, a much more enjoyable travel experience for all aboard,” Julia Buckley, MP for Shrewsbury, also welcomed the improvements.
Share on:
