It is hoped it will improve reliability and punctuality for passengers in south Wales
The new system will help delayed and cancelled trains (Image: Transport for Wales)
Rail services across Wales are often cancelled due to maintenance issues with the trains, however a new piece of equipment costing £12 million has been installed at a rail depot in Cardiff with the aim of getting faulty trains repaired and in service faster.
At the Canton depot a new bogie drop has been installed funded by the Welsh Government through Transport for Wales. The system will allow engineers to remove, repair and replace the wheel and underframe equipment beneath train carriages more safely and efficiently than before.
Trains needing repair that previously had to be sent elsewhere on the network for specialist maintenance can now be serviced on site in Canton, meaning they will return to service faster.
The aim of implementing the new multi-million pound equipment is to “improve reliability and punctuality for passengers across the region”, according to Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper.
Mr Hooper 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.”
The new facility is said to be “particularly important during autumn” as leaves on the line and adverse weather increase the demand for faster repairs.
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.”
