Tyseley Depot Enhancements
Spencer Rail Engineering were appointed to deliver a three-year project to extend and improve facilities at Tyseley Depot. The client, West Midland Railway, required a depot upgrade due to the expansion of their train fleet, which would not fit into the existing space. The project was conducted in three phases known as Work Packages 3, 4 and 5, all of which were delivered ahead of time and under budget.
The project scope involved a 100m extension to the existing depot building to provide six-car stabling on roads 11 and 12, undertaken during Works Package 5, the most extensive phase of the project. This phase also included new undercarriage maintenance pits on both roads, along with the supply and installation of train jacks, an overhead gantry crane and two mobile gantries, offering a wider capability of services for current and future maintenance requirements.
Works Packages 3 and 4 were completed earlier and included removing a significant section of track to prepare for a 30m extension to the Underframe Cleaning building. Mechanical and electrical works to the existing facility, including ventilation, shore supplies testing, commissioning, and snagging, were also delivered during these stages.
Early delivery of these works was enabled through digital construction, which
ensured smooth progress and minimised disruption to daily depot activities. Each package benefitted from this approach; for example, in Works Package 3 the digital model provided clear visualisations of how the extension would integrate with existing structures, keeping all parties informed on timelines, safety protocols and spatial constraints. This collaborative process supported efficient decision-making and contributed to the successful, on-schedule
delivery of the overall scheme.
Spencer Rail Engineering delivered the project ahead of schedule and under
budget after three years, using a two-stage Early Contractor Involvement (ECI)
process. A detailed gap analysis of client data enabled close collaboration with the client, end users, and stakeholders from the outset, clarifying requirements and identifying cost-effective solutions that saved around £2.5 million and shortened the programme by four months.
The depot now has the capacity to house six carriages and is future-proofed for the next-generation of West Midlands trains, with sustainability measures integrated throughout the project, including shore supplies to reduce emissions, a 124,000-kWh solar array, and energy-efficient systems to lower operational carbon emissions.
Collaboration with West Midlands Trains and Network Rail was central to delivering this project, which will play a vital role in the companies’ development for years to come.
