UK: London Underground has completed a £180m modernisation of its Neasden depot to provide facilities for the routine maintenance of Bombardier Transportation S Stock trainsets used on the Metropolitan Line.
BAM Nutall undertook the civil, mechanical and electrical works for the depot modernisation, Thales was responsible for signalling including a computer-based interlocking, and Balfour Beatty and Scott Wilson for upgrading the DC traction power supplies.
Maintenance equipment installed includes a Windhoff lifting machine able to raise a complete eight-car trainset, three inspection pits, Garrandale motorised bogie turntables, Hegenscheidt wheel lathe and a clean room for circuit board work. There are facilities for exchanging the wide inter-car gangways, and a heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit exchange road with high-level access platforms.
A £60m second phase upgrade which would provide facilities for heavy maintenance of the entire S Stock fleet of 191 trainsets is currently at the concept design stage.
- Read more about the introduction of S Stock trains and resignalling of the sub-surface lines in the June 2013 issue of Metro Report International.
