On 26/01/2011 13:31, D7666 wrote:
On Jan 26, 1:16 pm, Graeme wrote:

I suppose it is important to realise that there is a difference between
the facilities required for overnight maintenance and stabling and the
actual depot that does the really detailed exam stuff and repairs - this
is exactly how Siemens maintain the SWT Desiro fleet - every unit is
allocated to Northam (Southampton) and visits there on rotation but
there are a significant number of other locations for overnight
stabling, tanking, toilets etc.

The impressive thing about Northam is that it caters for a large fleet
of trains on a very compact site. They are fortunate in having the old
docks branch lines as a capacious head shunt. Must admit I was
surprised that they didn't opt for a part of Eastleigh works though.


I suggest Northam works exactly because it is not located in London.

[snip explanation]

Don't disagree but that wasn't my point.

I was commenting on putting the operation on a physically constrained
site. If you were going for a small site then I would have thought
Bournemouth might have been a better option with reduced ECS movements
required. Though Northam had access to a pool of trained labour with
the then run-down of Eastleigh works.

--
Graeme Wall
This account not read, substitute trains for rail.
Railway Miscellany at www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail
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