Greater Anglia is building a brand new state-of-the art train maintenance depot to be built on the site of a derelict chemical works factory on the Essex/Suffolk border.

The new depot, at Brantham, near Manningtree rail station, will be used for stabling and light maintenance of about 20 of the brand new trains due to arrive in East Anglia from 2019. The new trains will be commissioned into service from the new depot.

Once open, at least 30 people will work at the multi-million-pound depot, which Greater Anglia plans to complete by December 2018.

It will include 13 tracks where trains can be parked overnight for cleaning and toilet maintenance. Two further tracks will be undercover in a 300-metre shed, with full under- train inspection pits and cranes for general train maintenance.

Covering an area of 22 acres on the north side of the existing railway, the depot will be fully electrified.

In addition, a new wheel lathe will be installed, to provide another location on the Greater Anglia network where train wheel repairs can be carried out, minimising the length of time trains are out of service. This is especially useful during autumn, when slippery conditions damage wheels.

Other facilities will include a train wash, remote train monitoring systems, a control room and spares storage.

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