10 July 2025

After a relatively quiet period, the UK and Ireland’s railways are on the cusp of a significant transformation. Over the coming years, nearly 2000 new carriages, as well as over 600 new trains and trams, are expected to enter service. Almost every major operator is planning to acquire either brand-new or cascaded rolling stock – and for passengers, this is brilliant news. But while this scale of investment is undeniably positive, it also presents an operational challenge that must be addressed now, not later.  Suzanne Page, Head of Operational Integration looks at this in more detail and how we can help.  

New trains (or new to an operator) don’t simply slot into existing depot space. In fact, many depots across the country are already space constrained. With the overlap of old fleets being phased out and new ones arriving, some operators may soon find themselves without sufficient capacity to stable, maintain and service their trains effectively. This isn’t just a short-term logistical issue. If not carefully planned for, it risks undermining the performance and reliability of the railway – at precisely the moment passengers are expecting improvements and the industry will want to show the benefits of Great British Railways. We need to understand what we need to do to accommodate these trains years in advance.

The requirements of incoming rolling stock – whether electric, bi-mode, tri-mode, or tram – vary significantly. One size will not fit all depots, so planning for this transition takes time, and the earlier it begins, the better. Throughout my railway career, I’ve held a variety of roles – including Route Director for Great Northern and part of the Shadow Operator team at Sydney Metro. Now at SLC, it’s been incredibly exciting to put all that operational knowledge into practice and already be supporting operators through early-stage feasibility studies for depot expansion and reconfiguration. These operators are taking seriously the need to adapt infrastructure ahead of delivery windows, which are often just a few years away. But even more importantly, the work we’ve done shows that the obvious answer is not always the best one.

Our experience working previously for train operating companies gives us a unique, operationally grounded perspective. We don’t just look at where to stable and service trains – we take an Operational Integration and Requirements-led view of depot integration. That means considering everything from train movements and power supply to staff accommodation, health and safety compliance, and land and property. Too often, depot design is treated as a purely technical problem. In reality, it’s an operational one, and the performance of the railway will only ever be as good as the efficiency and reliability of its depots.

The scale of this rolling stock investment presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver substantial passenger benefits – but only if the supporting infrastructure is in place. This is where Great British Railways and the wider industry can truly shine: by demonstrating that it can coordinate, integrate, and deliver complex depot and stabling upgrades that work not just in theory, but in day-to-day operations.

Find out more how SLC can support your depot planning, feasibility studies, or infrastructure integration,