Eastleigh rail depot receives upgrade to reduce costs

Date: 24/4/2012

Network Rail has upgraded its Eastleigh rail depot near Southampton as part of its bid to reduce costs and make the UK's train system more efficient.

The site is now capable of producing serviceable rail measuring 216m in length, which has been recycled from old pieces of track.

This is 70 per cent cheaper than creating brand new rail and is thoroughly tested at the depot before it is reused.

Eastleigh can produce around eight per cent of the total amount of track Network Rail uses every year - equal to 10,000 tonnes of 216m recycled serviceable rail.

Martin Elwood, Director of the national delivery service that runs the depot, said the group is "committed to reducing costs and this is the latest initiative which is helping the railway become a more efficient industry."

It was recently announced that the signalling infrastructure on the Great Western line is to be upgraded to accommodate an increase in demand along the route over the coming years.

Posted by Mary Treen