- Passengers across South Wales will benefit from more reliable
services following a £12m investment at Cardiff's Canton rail
depot
- A new bogie drop allows engineers to service and repair
trains faster, on-site, reducing time trains are out of service
- The facility will maintain and service Transport for Wales's
fleet of new trains.
A new £12m bogie drop has been installed at Canton rail depot in
Cardiff to help maintain and service Transport for Wales's fleet
of new trains.
The new facility funded by the Welsh Government through Transport
for Wales allows engineers to remove, repair and replace the
wheel and underframe equipment beneath train carriages more
safely and efficiently than before.
Trains that previously had to be sent elsewhere on the network
for specialist maintenance can now be serviced on site, meaning
they return to service faster.
The announcement was made by Deputy Minister for Transport during a visit to the site. He
said:
"This investment at Canton is part of our commitment to building
a modern, resilient transport network one that performs well for
the passengers who depend on it every day.
By maintaining more of our fleet locally and efficiently, we can
get trains back into service faster and continue to improve
reliability and punctuality for passengers across the
region."
Canton depot maintains trains serving communities across South
Wales. The facility will be particularly important during autumn,
when leaves on the line and adverse weather increase the demand
for swift maintenance turnarounds.
This investment reflects the Welsh Government's policy choice to
prioritise in-house, Welsh-based rail maintenance capacity,
reducing reliance on facilities outside Wales and building
long-term resilience into the network.
Dan Tipper Chief Infrastructure officer at Transport for Wales
said:
"We are delighted to see the new bogie drop facility officially
in service at our Canton depot. This £12 million investment is a
fantastic milestone in our journey to transform rail services
across Wales and the Borders.
"By bringing this specialist maintenance capability in-house, we
can significantly speed up repair times, improve daily
reliability, and ensure we keep more trains running for our
customers and the communities we serve."
Notes to editors
- Transport for Wales is a not-for-profit organisation wholly
owned by the Welsh Government and is transforming public
transport throughout Wales and the Borders.
- Canton Depot is Transport for Wales's primary train
maintenance facility in Cardiff, where cleaning, repair and
overnight storage of trains takes place.
