New depot for Chiltern

[MerlinRail 804]

I think most people on here know that the Mk5s for Chiltern is basically happening. Supposing they decide to add to the fleet with either more Mk5s or a different intercity train, where could a new depot be built? I don’t think there’s any room at Wembley or Stourbridge, and Aylesbury isn’t the best placed for mainline services. Could there be an expansion of Banbury? Is there room to use some of the sidings at Oxford? Especially a few years down the line, if new new trains of any kind are ordered, where could they build a new depot?

 

[150219]

You'd probably be looking to review the possible expansion of current depot locations, so Banbury is not a bad shout in terms of unbuilt land in the immediate surroundings.

Stourbridge is a possibility, as the original depot on the same site (similar to Banbury in that respect) had more roads than it currently does.

Outside of that, if new locations were to be investigated then possibly Leamington for a small light maintenance depot.

 

[The Planner]

Banbury would be expanded if anything is needed long term, nothing is going to happen short term.

 

[JonathanH]

Discussion before seemed to be that the Mark 5s will be maintained by Alstom at Central Rivers, near Burton-on-Trent, so just siding space needed on Chiltern's actual network.

 

[The Planner]

Discussion before seemed to be that the Mark 5s will be maintained by Alstom at Central Rivers, near Burton-on-Trent, so just siding space needed on Chiltern's actual network.

Sounds like that is the plan, ECS moves will be a faff.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Banbury recently had a couple of extra roads put in to allow for restricted access to Aylesbury depot during HS2 works.
As that work is now presumably over, would that give Chiltern a little bit more breathing space, given they have lost rather than gained stock in recent years?

If Chiltern end up using the Mk5s to free up 165s/168s to work on EWR, presumably these could use depot space at Bletchley freed up by sending the 'borrowed' 196s back to WMT.

 

[D365]

Discussion before seemed to be that the Mark 5s will be maintained by Alstom at Central Rivers, near Burton-on-Trent, so just siding space needed on Chiltern's actual network.

Sounds like that is the plan, ECS moves will be a faff.

I was under the impression that Central Rivers, in its current guise, is more-or-less at capacity with the Class 22x fleets. (CrossCountry Voyagers and providing an outstation for Etches Park until the Class 222s are transferred elsewhere)

 

[JonathanH]

I was under the impression that Central Rivers, in its current guise, is more-or-less at capacity with the Class 22x fleets. (CrossCountry Voyagers and providing an outstation for Etches Park until the Class 222s are transferred elsewhere)

Is that possibly a factor in the suggestion that they only use four Mark 5 sets at first, then more at a later point, perhaps once the 222s are elsewhere?

 

[AJDesiro]

I recall reading on WNXX some suggestions about the use of Wembley on the WCML, maybe just wibble though.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

I recall reading on WNXX some suggestions about the use of Wembley on the WCML, maybe just wibble though.

Not sure if I can see the space for a connection onto the CML…

 

[JonathanH]

Not sure if I can see the space for a connection onto the CML…

Neasden Curve / Acton Canal Wharf and some other shunting.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Neasden Curve / Acton Canal Wharf and some other shunting.

Maybe. Quite roundabout so I guess not for storage for day-to-day workings

The annoying thing is, there used to be plenty of space around the Neasden/Wembley area full of yard and sidings until stuff got built on it. Would certainly be a useful place to store a new fleet if it still existed, but I guess it wasn’t useful once.