Alstom's Depot Dash

Name: Alstom's Depot Dash
Start: 2026-04-04T07:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-04-04T20:00:00+01:00
Location: 6th Floor, Derwent House, 150 Arundel Gate, S1 2FN Sheffield, United Kingdom

Schedule

Sat Apr 04 2026 at 07:30 am to 08:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

6th Floor, Derwent House, 150 Arundel Gate, S1 2FN Sheffield, United Kingdom | Sheffield, EN

After our hugely successful fixture in October 2025, where we explored Alstom's facilities in Derby and Polmadie, Glasgow, it seems only right to continue the tradition, and visit a further 3 locations that Alstom use to undertake all of their excellent fleet maintenance work for numerous train operating companies. And with a loco hauled train, hauled by a couple of Class 66s, a Class 57, plus 3 x 08/09 shunters, where else would you rather be on this sunny Spring day.
In partnership with Alstom, GB Railfreight and Eastern Rail Services, the Branch Line Society are pleased to offer this amazing once in a lifetime opportunity to travel between three working depots in Liverpool, Manchester and Wolverhampton.
Unusually for a Charter, we give you the opportunity to join at one of the oldest railway stations in the world, Edge Hill, in the Liverpool suburbs. Opened in 1830, things have moved on slightly now as you board your train hauled by a GBRf Class 66 for the short distance into Liverpool Lime Street. After reversal here, our GBRf Class 57 heads across to Earlestown for a further PU before we head into the first destination of the day - Longsight Depot.
The depot recently celebrated 175 years of railway history with Longsight being a vital part of the local community, and generations of engineers have been trained and employed there. It is still a fully working depot and has always been at the forefront of UK rail engineering. On site, Victorian railway sheds sit side by side with the latest technology. The depot employs over 200 people and is primarily used to maintain the Alstom built Pendolino fleet used on the West Coast Main Line. We plan to enter and depart from Longsight depot via the Longsight Depot Arrival Line and Washing Plant Line, however it would be rude not to make use of their on-site shunters, so with huge thanks to the team at Longsight, we are planned to be hauled through the depot by 2 Class 08/09 shunters.
After leaving Manchester, we are heading for Alstom's next maintenance facility in the West Midlands, but to get there, our Class 57 hauled train will cover a number of rare track moves including Chelford Up Loop, Up Manchester Loop, Stafford Royal Mail Terminal, and the Oxley Up Chord before arriving at the depot. Oxley Traction and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot (TRSMD) is a major railway maintenance facility located in Wolverhampton and its primary role is to service and stable Avanti West Coast's fleet, including the recently introduced Hitachi Evero trains (Classes 805 and 807). Originally developed in the late 19th century, the site has continued to grow and evolve through significant investments, including a £32 million transformation in the early 2000s by Alstom and Kier Rail which included upgrades like train-washing plants, lifting systems, and underframe equipment removal for Pendolino tilting trains. When we arrive on site, again we have a spectacular bonus for you, when their on-site Class 08 shunter will drag our train from Oxley No 6 Road through to the shunt neck. Again, huge thanks to the Oxley team for allowing this to take place.
As we leave Oxley around lunchtime, time for everyone to relax and calm down from the morning's excitement! As we head South to Bescot Yard, there is more fun and games to come as we change our Class 66 for a different Class 66, so hopefully the red pens will be out for a number of people on board! Onwards to Bletchley for a short break and to reverse, but aiming to cover a number of rare highlights on route including Rugby Up Goods Loop and Bletchley Relief No 2.
Time to head North again behind our Class 57 for our final Alstom Depot visit in Liverpool before everyone heads home for their Easter break. The state-of-the-art train maintenance facility in Edge Hill supports the maintenance of Pendolino trains for the West Coast Mainline. A recent investment in the depot allowed it to support the additional maintenance required on a number of units to meet the daily requirements of the fleet. In addition, new lifting and access equipment was installed which allowed the replacement of pantographs, wheelsets, and windscreens to be completed. Unfortunately we have no shunters based at Edge Hill to take advantage off, however with huge thanks to the team at Edge Hill, we are pleased to advise we will run through the heart of the depot, travelling via Edge Hill Reception Sidings and Downhill Carriage Siding 'B'.
Our 57 will continue to run back into Liverpool Lime Street, before the Class 66 finishes in style with the final set-down back at Edge Hill station where it all started.
On board we will have a buffet serving a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks, and we will be running our very successful on board charity raffle for Alstom's nominated charities.
All profits from this fixture will be split between Alstoms chosen charities.
All times and routing are indicative until confirmed by Network Rail. Final routing and timings are usually confirmed by Network Rail five days before travel and will be enclosed with your e-ticket. The outline planned spec is as follows:
Edge Hill (PU 07:30) - Liverpool Lime Street (PU/RM 07:53) - Roby P4 - Earlestown (PU 08:20) - Eccles UGL - Manchester Piccadilly - Longsight CARMD - Longsight Depot Arrival Line - Washing Plant Line - Slade Lane Jn - Heald Green South Jn - Chelford Up Loop - Up Manchester Loop - Crewe - Stafford Royal Mail Terminal - Up Penkridge Slow - Oxley Up Chord - Oxley CARMD - Oxley No 6 Road - Shunt Neck (RM) - Wolverhampton - Bescot Jn - Bescot Up Yard - Aston - Stechford - Birmingham International P1 - Coventry - Rugby Up Goods Loop - Milton Keynes - Bletchley Relief No 2 - Bletchley P5 (20 mins break RM) - Bletchley Relief No 2 - Milton Keynes (SD 16:25) - Northampton Down Goods - Rugby - Nuneaton (SD 17:25) - Stafford (SD 17:55) - Crewe (SD 18:25) - Weaver Jn - Runcorn - Edge Hill Reception Sidings - Downhill Carriage Siding 'B' - Liverpool Lime Street (SD/RM 19:40) - Edge Hill (SD 19:55)