Construction of a brand new Greater Anglia train maintenance depot at Brantham, Essex, planned to open later this year, may not go ahead.
GA managing director Jamie Burles says the Abellio franchise is reviewing the situation due to “a number of issues” and is looking at other options. A final decision will be made within the next couple of months.
In a GA stakeholder newsletter published on March 9, Burles writes that one of the key obstacles to the scheme announced in December 2017 is not being able to agree terms with the landowner.
In addition, he states: “Safety issues relating to the impact of the likely volume of extra train movements over Manningtree level crossing and a number of additional challenges linked to the preparation of the site and the construction process, mean we are reviewing the scheme and looking at alternative options.
“We expect to make a decision on our approach going forward within the next couple of months, to ensure that – whatever our final plan – there is no adverse effect on the introduction of the new trains.”
Sources have suggested that the facility, which was launched in February last year and due to open this December, will no longer be built and that GA is looking for a new depot. It was to home new Stadler and Bombardier trains, although the main maintenance facilities for both would remain Norwich Crown Point and Ilford.
- To read the full story, read RAIL 849, published on March 28, and available digitally from March 24.
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FrankH - 13/03/2018 11:14
The landowner I presume is the main hold up on this scheme as reported here a few months ago. GA should plan elsewhere now, time is running short.
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AndrewJGwilt1989 - 14/03/2018 01:36
I think it will happen. It might be planned to start construction from late this year or possibly early next year with the arrival of the Class 720’s, Class 745’s and Class 755’s that will start passenger services from late this year and next year-onwards. And GA could retain some of the Class 321’s or Class 379’s to operate on few branch lines in Essex (Crouch Valley Line). With the rest of the rolling stocks that are to be replaced and to cascade elsewhere or to be stored.
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FrankH - 14/03/2018 18:42
Manningtree level crossing is a big problem, only a certain number of trains are allowed to pass per day due to causing traffic hold ups. So whichever side it's built from Manningtree extra traffic is going to have to go over the level crossing
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Chris - 14/03/2018 19:55
issues with the landowner selling the land, regarding the above statment would you be able to enlightening with detail
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