Multi-million-pound upgrades completed at Bletchley Depot

A major milestone in the rollout of one of Britain’s newest train fleets has been reached following a £66m investment from Porterbrook to redevelop the Bletchley Train Maintenance Depot in Milton Keynes.

London Northwestern Railway (LNR) and Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, officially announced the completion of the project on Friday 12 September, where a new fleet of class 730/2 electric trains will be stabled and maintained.

To run these modern trains, Bletchley Depot’s main shed has been extended with new modernised carriage servicing sidings, improved inspection facilities and new train lifting equipment. The overhead electrified lines have been replaced, and a new overhead gantry now offers roof access to the full length of the train.

The £80m redevelopment was primarily funded by Porterbrook, with additional support from the Department for Transport. The improvements will benefit passengers in dozens of locations across the country, with the new fleet serving routes between Crewe and London and Northampton and London.

Lord Peter Hendy, the Minister of State for Rail, said: “I’m delighted to see the transformation that has taken place at Bletchley depot, made possible by significant government support and a great collaborative effort between London Northwestern Railway and its delivery partners.

“The new trains entering service will provide a much better experience for passengers along the route, connecting millions of people to jobs, education, and leisure opportunities. I look forward to seeing their smooth introduction being completed and enjoying a journey myself in the coming months.”

John Doughty, engineering director at London Northwestern Railway, said: “We are so pleased to celebrate the completion of these important and transformative upgrades. Having cutting edge equipment and more space in our sidings means our trains can be serviced and maintained more quickly, so we can offer a more reliable service for our passengers.”

Stefan Rose, Chief Investment Officer at Porterbrook, said: “Working in partnership with London Northwestern Railway and the Department for Transport, these impressive upgrades highlight the important role that private finance can play in maintaining and enhancing rail infrastructure to deliver a better service for passengers.”