Freight operator First GBRf, in conjunction with Electro-Motive Services International Ltd (EMSI), have opened a new maintenance depot in March, Cambridgeshire, to service part of its Class 66 locomotive fleet.
 
The depot in East Anglia will ensure more efficient use of First GBRf’s freight locos by reducing the distance the fleet travel for servicing. With facilities formerly in Peterborough, the new depot will reduce light engine movements by 200 miles a month.
 
Ralph Goldney, deputy managing director at First GBRf said: “We are delighted at the opening of this new facility.  We are looking forward to working with EMSI as they fulfil their contract with us to maintain 10 of our Class 66 locomotives.”

The depot was previously a Victorian railway storage facility.  EMSI, as part of its five year contract to maintain the Class 66s, have converted the building into a state-of-the-art service and engineering facility with space for two locomotive exams and on-site stabling capacity for six engines.

The depot is the first of its kind to have a roaming repairer on call 24 hours a day to assist with vehicle breakdowns wherever they occur.
 
EMSI is part of Electro-Motive Diesel Inc group who manufacture the Class 66 locomotive. Managing director Duncan R. Scott, from EMSI, said: “The March facility and its location give Electro-Motive the ideal opportunity to deliver improved locomotive availability and reliability aligned to our Class 66, and in addition, will allow us to address overall maintenance efficiency. The depot complements our “man-in- the-van-concept” keeping GBRf locomotives in service. It is our goal to improve performance enabling GBRf to maximise their competitiveness within their business."

The site will be used to carry out ‘C’ exams where all safety systems including brakes, AWS and Driver Safety Devices are inspected and tested.  Weekly ‘RS’ exams will also be undertaken, which are regular maintenance checks that take three to four hours to complete and see the replacement of consumable items such as oil filters.