We are pleased to announce that we have found an alternative to building a train care centre (TCC) in Fulbourn, South Cambridgeshire following extensive work with the rail industry to develop a different solution.
Fulbourn had previously been identified as a possible location for the facility to support the operation and maintenance of trains which will operate on the East West Rail route and the Newmarket line.
As we explained to the community when the proposal was first suggested earlier this year, we were also continuing to work with industry partners to explore alternative proposals. Following this work, we can confirm that Cambridge Eastern TCC has been removed from our Development Consent Order (DCO) proposals.
The solution follows close working with Network Rail and train operators and is a good example of cross-industry collaboration as the sector progresses towards an integrated Great British Railways, which will be the public body responsible for passenger services and infrastructure. The revised proposal is set to offer better service improvements as well as being better value for money.
Train care and stabling facilities will now be provided at a combination of existing rail industry-owned sites elsewhere in the Eastern region, none of which are in Cambridgeshire. The facilities will be in place before work begins at Cambridge station.
Train operators that currently use stabling and train care facilities at Cambridge station will use the additional provision during construction of East West Rail and continue to do so once the new railway is operational. We will then take over use of the existing facilities at Cambridge station.
The new approach is expected to provide benefits including improved service reliability, by providing train operators with facilities better located across the wider network, while ensuring train care provision is maintained during construction and for the future railway.
David Hughes, CEO, EWR Co, said: “This is a significant step forward and has only been possible because the rail industry has worked together to find a better way of meeting our requirements for a Train Care Centre.”
More details about our revised proposals are available in our press release HERE.
