Transport Secretary Opens Three Bridges Traincare Facility
Train depot creating 150 new jobs opens
21st October 2015 – Crawley Observer
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By Berny Torre
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A new Three Bridges train depot the size of 13 football pitches has created 150 jobs.
Transport Secretary Patrick Mcloughlin officially opened Three Bridges Traincare facility on Thursday (October 15).
It marked a milestone in the multi-billion pound Government Thameslink Programme which is due to create rail links from Three Bridges to Bedfordshire and Kent by 2018.
A spokesman for the Department of Transport said the depot would play a significant part in housing and maintaining the new 1,140 carriage fleet for the expanded Thameslink network.
It will operate from Bedford, Cambridge and Peterborough to Brighton, Horsham, Gatwick, Maidstone and Sevenoaks.
Crawley MP Henry Smith said: “Crawley commuters, and people travelling to work from across the south east, can expect a step change in capacity as a result of the new fleet of Class 700 trains.
‘At the end of 2018, trains will run in and out of London every two to three minute so providing a service of up to 24 trains an hour during peak times.
“I’m delighted that as a result of Siemens’ 300 million investment, there will be an estimated 150 jobs based at the site. I’m also pleased that over the course of the next year, 26 apprentices will be based at the new depot.”
He added: “I’m pleased that Siemens, Govia Thameslink Railway and Network Rail chose to locate their new facility at Three Bridges in Crawley, building on the area’s considerable rail heritage.
“It was a pleasure to show the Transport Secretary around the site.” Mr Mcloughlin said: “The opening of this state-of-the-art facility is a major milestone and paves the way for an impressive new fleet of hi-tech trains to come into service from spring next year.
“The improvements will transform rail travel for millions of passengers, with better journeys on fantastic new Class 700 trains, improved connections and upgraded stations.
“Our plan for passengers is delivering real improvements for those who use Thameslink services.”