The train operator for the East of England, Greater Anglia, says that a £17m project is underway that will deliver a brand-new wheel lathe facility at its Clacton Rail Depot in Essex.

Working alongside delivery partner Spencer Group, which will build the new facility, it will be the first time Greater Anglia has had its own permanent wheel lathe facility.

A wheel lathe allows the train operator to service its fleet on-patch and transform how trains are prepared ahead of service. Trains undergo daily wear and tear that can result in small flat spots on the wheels. To correct this damage, a wheel lathe is used to re-profile each wheel with precision. It begins by measuring the size of each wheel, before calculating how much metal to remove. The wheel then undergoes re-profiling accordingly to restoreits roundness. After the cutting process, the lathe measures the wheels again to ensure their quality before the train returns to service.

The lathe itself (pictured during tests) has been produced by Hegenscheidt-MFD, a German-based specialist in machine tools for the railway and automotive sectors. Greater Anglia’s new 5000 m² facility is expected to open in summer 2025 and has support from the Department for Transport.

Andrew Goodrum, Greater Anglia client &programme director, says:”Not only will this £17m investment into Clacton improve the performance and reliability of regional services, it will also provide many new highly skilled jobs.Once complete, we will also be able to service trains much quicker than before, allowing them to return to passenger service faster.”

The wheel lathe facility will be used by the entire Greater Anglia fleet, including its class 745, class 720 and class 755 units.

More information www.hegenscheidt-mfd.com/en