A major boost for train reliability in the West Midlands has been marked with the completion of a £70 million redevelopment of Tyseley Traction Maintenance Depot (TMD) in Birmingham. The upgraded depot will support West Midlands Railway’s (WMR) new and existing fleets, enhancing efficiency and reliability across the region’s network.

The completion of the project was officially announced on Friday 24 October, with local representatives and rail industry experts touring the site, which maintains and services 94 trains. The redevelopment forms part of WMR’s wider £1 billion investment in new rolling stock and depot upgrades. Tyseley has been specifically modified to accommodate the new Class 196 fleet, alongside improved support for the WMR Class 172 fleet and CrossCountry’s Class 170 trains.

The 26-strong Class 196 fleet, which entered service in 2022, runs on lines from Birmingham to Hereford and Shrewsbury, and between Nuneaton, Coventry and Leamington. Each train features intelligent air conditioning, charging ports at every seat, and modern digital information screens. To accommodate the 96-metre-long units, the depot’s main shed has been extended, increasing indoor capacity from 29 to 38 vehicles. Inspection facilities have been upgraded, and new train lifting equipment has been installed.

A 302-panel solar farm has also been installed on the shed roof, generating an estimated 124,000 kWh and saving 58 tonnes of carbon per year, reinforcing the depot’s sustainability credentials. John Doughty, WMR engineering director, said: “These upgrades come as part of a wider £1 billion investment into new fleets and infrastructure across our network. The new facilities at Tyseley mean we can efficiently maintain the new and existing train fleets based at the depot, helping to lessen the impact of disruption and improve the reliability of our service.”

The depot employs more than 200 staff, including 130 technicians and 16 apprentices, and serves as a key hub for WMR’s engineering apprenticeship programme. Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “This investment in cutting-edge equipment and a modern depot means the region’s train fleets will be better looked after and kept in tip-top condition. This will improve reliability, meaning fewer delays and better journeys for everyone in the West Midlands.”

The three-year upgrade project was funded in partnership with Angel Trains and the Department for Transport, with building work carried out by Spencer Rail Engineering, part of Spencer Group. Mike Halliday, managing director for rail at Spencer Group, said: “From the outset, the focus has been to complete the works on time and within budget, and we’ve done it. Credit must go to West Midlands Railway for allowing us to be involved in the early stages of the project’s development to find an affordable, well thought-through solution, and the results speak for themselves.”

Image: West Midlands Railway