Swansea Maliphant Depot facts for kids
The Swansea Maliphant Depot (also called Swansea Train Maintenance Centre) is a special place where trains are kept and fixed. It was built for modern trains like the Class 800 from the Hitachi A-train series. These trains are part of a big project called the Intercity Express Programme.
This depot is located just north of the Swansea railway station in Wales. It sits right next to the main railway line that runs through South Wales. Before 2016, this area was just used for storing trains on tracks called sidings. Today, a company called Agility Trains runs the depot. They are in charge of keeping the Class 800 trains in great shape for Great Western Railway.
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What is the Swansea Maliphant Depot?
A train depot is like a garage or workshop for trains. It's where trains go for cleaning, refueling, and repairs. The Swansea Maliphant Depot is a modern facility designed to take care of the newest trains used by Great Western Railway.
Why is it important?
The depot helps make sure that trains are safe and ready to carry passengers. It's a key part of keeping the railway system running smoothly in Wales and beyond. Without places like this, trains couldn't get the regular check-ups and fixes they need.
History of the Site
The land where the depot now stands has been part of the railway for a long time. The Swansea railway station was built in 1850 for the South Wales Railway. This railway later became part of the larger Great Western Railway in 1863.
Early railway use
North of the station, tracks were laid out for storing trains. These storage tracks were called "sidings." There was also a goods station nearby for loading and unloading goods from trains. A street called Maliphant Street even passed under the railway tracks.
In the beginning, the site had a workshop for repairs and a turntable to turn trains around. It also had a shed for carriages.
Changes over time
As years passed, the turntable and workshops were removed. The area then became mostly long, straight sidings. For about 100 years, the site was mainly used for storing trains, with only small changes to how the tracks were laid out.
The Depot Today
In 2012, plans were announced to build a new service depot on the site of the old sidings. This new depot would be for the Great Western Railway's new AT300 trains. Construction was set to begin in 2015.
Building the modern depot
Some changes were made to the original plans in 2013. These changes included making some buildings larger. However, the overall amount of work planned for the site stayed the same.
The construction of the depot was finished in 2016. It started operating in 2017 and created 80 jobs.
What the depot does
The Swansea Maliphant Depot is a busy place. It has a special building where trains are inspected to make sure they are safe. There are also facilities to wash trains and refuel them. This helps keep the trains clean and ready for their journeys.
