New Depot at Brantham, Suffolk

[Wivenswold]

More information on the new Stadler depot on the Suffolk side of the Stour.

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/new_rail...at_brantham_on_suffolk_essex_border_1_4883376

Plans for a new multi-million pound rail depot near Manningtree station have been unveiled by Greater Anglia.

he new depot will be built on part of the former ICI plant at Brantham just north of Manningtree station on the Suffolk side of the River Stour.

The new depot will be used to maintain and repair the fleet of new trains that will be introduced by Greater Anglia as part of its new franchise from 2019 onwards.

The creation of a new depot in the Manningtree area was a key element of the franchise agreement awarded to Greater Anglia in August last year – when we revealed that the Brantham site was at the top of the list for the investment.

The formal announcement was made today by Greater Anglia managing director Jamie Burles supported by South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge and Babergh Council deputy leader Simon Barrett.

Little known fact, Margaret Thatcher worked on this site as a Research Chemist when it was owned by The British Xylonite Company.

 

[theironroad]

It's great that the site is going to be redeveloped as both sides of the track have been an eyesore for years now.

 

[306024]

Littler known fact, Xylonite is a 100 year old Thames sailing barge, built by Horlocks of Mistley in 1926.

Good news all round, the current site is an eyesore on what is otherwise one of the prettier bits of the GEML as you cross the Stour. Even a railway maintenance depot will improve the view.

 

[Class 170101]

I hope they won't just rely on using the existing Manningtree North Jn to access the depot and that the Down Main will be made (fully) bi-directional between the depot entrance and the crossover south of Manningtree station.

 

[306024]

I hope they won't just rely on using the existing Manningtree North Jn to access the depot and that the Down Main will be made (fully) bi-directional between the depot entrance and the crossover south of Manningtree station.

That's potentially a lot of signalling expense for what operational gain? Starting up passenger trains from the down platform at Manningtree is not at all customer friendly given the layout of Manningtree station.

Just using Manningtree North Jn would be a similar layout to Ilford Car Sheds at the Seven Kings end, and that will have to cope with all the Crossrail arrivals and departures.

Yes it will need some clever timetabling, but so does the rest of the franchise.

 

[Class 170101]

Ok what happens when Manningtree North Jn breaks and the points are broke for an extended period?

At least when Ilford Depot C/End fails one can still run via London End.

 

[306024]

If the points break, NR will have to fix them. If the points into the depot break you ain't going anywhere, regardless of any bi-di signalling. You can bet they will move up the asset register for maintenance if they are the key to depot access.

A 9 car Crossrail train will have to exit via the Country End if stabled on the new Crossrail sidings, they can't get out at the London End from most of those sidings.

 

[GB]

Be good to add a freight loop while they are at it.

 

[Elecman]

Nothing will get added or changed unless Stadler/ The TOC pay for it.

 

[306024]

Be good to add a freight loop while they are at it.

For who? Not for Freighliner, who having got to 9 miles from Ipswich get shunted aside. That could add additional cost for them.

And certainly not for A137 users. Manningtree level crossing is a hot topic, at least a freightliner whizzes through at 70mph which reduces the time the gates are down.

Given GAs shopping list of infrastructure improvements, someone is going to have a big bill at the end of it.

 

[GB]

For who? Not for Freighliner, who having got to 9 miles from Ipswich get shunted aside. That could add additional cost for them.

And certainly not for A137 users. Manningtree level crossing is a hot topic, at least a freightliner whizzes through at 70mph which reduces the time the gates are down.

Given GAs shopping list of infrastructure improvements, someone is going to have a big bill at the end of it.

For operational/regulation options when the Ipswich yard plan shags up.

 

[Class 170101]

Thats called Colchester Goods Lines

 

[Class 170101]

If the points break, NR will have to fix them. If the points into the depot break you ain't going anywhere, regardless of any bi-di signalling. You can bet they will move up the asset register for maintenance if they are the key to depot access.

Pray they aren't points that parts have to be specially made for. Need I mention Lewisham or Dover in the past year or so.

 

[TheEdge]

Ok what happens when Manningtree North Jn breaks and the points are broke for an extended period?

At least when Ilford Depot C/End fails one can still run via London End.

The same thing that happens when any set of points anywhere fails; service disruption. Its not like all servicing facilities on the GEML are going in here. You've still got Crown Point, Colchester, Ilford and Orient Way.

 

[dk1]

Ok what happens when Manningtree North Jn breaks and the points are broke for an extended period?

At least when Ilford Depot C/End fails one can still run via London End.

Same at Crown Point really. Everything that uses roads 2 to 24 relies on just one set of points in front of the Panel Box.

 

[eastdyke]

Littler known fact, Xylonite is a 100 year old Thames sailing barge, built by Horlocks of Mistley in 1926.

Good news all round, the current site is an eyesore on what is otherwise one of the prittier bits of the GEML as you cross the Stour. Even a railway maintenance depot will improve the view.

Xylonite, now better known by its registered name Celluloid, was invented in 1856 (having been first named Parkesine).

The site is actually in Cattawade (although often said to be in Brantham but which is further 'up the hill') was chosen for production due to its remoteness. Celluloid is produced from nitrocellulose.

The New Depot site will include bad ground although worse may be on the other side of the tracks.

The site when BX Plastics was rail connected. Link to an East Anglian Film Archive film from 1979 on Manningtree Station:

http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/613

The film runs for 24 minutes, a 'twice daily' gronk trip to the site can be seen about 7 minutes in.
Warning! The film contains much blue & grey, class 47's and very little hi viz.

More information on the new Stadler depot on the Suffolk side of the Stour.

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/new_rail...at_brantham_on_suffolk_essex_border_1_4883376

Little known fact, Margaret Thatcher worked on this site as a Research Chemist when it was owned by The British Xylonite Company.

Margaret Thatcher did work for BX Plastics in the 1950's although as a Research Chemist she probably spent most of her time at the Research Facility in Lawford Place (now residential) on the Essex side of the River Stour.

I spent a little time with Bexford Ltd. on the site adjacent to BX Plastics in the late 1960's. Bexford having been set up jointly by BX Plastics and Ilford Films to research and develop surface coatings for film bases. In the time that I was there Bexford was taken over by ICI.

I too will be pleased to see the site cleaned up and again put to good use.

 

[306024]

Xylonite, now better known by its registered name Celluloid, was invented in 1856 (having been first named Parkesine).

The site is actually in Cattawade (although often said to be in Brantham but which is further 'up the hill') was chosen for production due to its remoteness. Celluloid is produced from nitrocellulose.

The New Depot site will include bad ground although worse may be on the other side of the tracks.

The site when BX Plastics was rail connected. Link to an East Anglian Film Archive film from 1979 on Manningtree Station:

http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/613.

Xylonite = Celluloid, I never knew. You do wonder if there will be any nasties in the soil when they start digging.

The East Anglian Film Archive are simply superb, for all aspects of East Anglian life, not just railways. That film was on a CD enclosed in a book on the history of Manningtree station, written by David Cleveland of the EAFA. Some proper characters there.

 

[GB]

The East Anglian Film Archive are simply superb, for all aspects of East Anglian life, not just railways.

I agree. I often find myself wondering what places looked like XX years ago and what would be happening at the spot I'm currently standing in, and these provide a very nice insight to it all.

 

[eastdyke]

Xylonite = Celluloid, I never knew. You do wonder if there will be any nasties in the soil when they start digging.

I wonder if the planning permission will require the demolition/clearance of the dereliction on the east side of the railway. The buildings are a total mish-mash and from a time when asbestos was very widely used. The site was basically a chemical factory, residues are inevitable. Access is currently via a small tunnel under the railway. Clearance costs will be substantial.

I have seen it written that the BX Plastics parts of the site (the greater part) changed hands for 1p when the name was changed to Wardle Storey's in 1984.

 

[rebmcr]

100 year old [...] built [...] in 1926

.....

 

[306024]

Oops,

Make that a littler known alternative fact. 'Tis only 90 years young.

 

[MrPIC]

How will the units be cycled there from West Anglia?

 

[dk1]

How will the units be cycled there from West Anglia?

I was under the impression that the Stadler Stansted units will be cycled to Crown Point not Brantham on a daily basis meaning each train will visit every couple of weeks.

 

[Ellaguru]

It is really good to see this area of derelict land brought back into use.

However, this is classed Flood Zone 3 by the Environment Agency - typically you would not be permitted to build dwellings here without a lot of mitigation - the fundamental reason being risk to life.

What I don't understand is how the Planners could have been reassured how the flood risk for this development will be managed?

Maybe Rail Depots can be built in such a way that the occasional dowsing in muddy seawater doesn't matter!

But does it really make sense to build a Rail Depot on land which is so likely to flood?

Perhaps some planning documents have been published somewhere which address these matters ...

 

[TheEdge]

Forgive me for not being au fait with chemical pollution but what is so toxic about the site and or ground there?

 

[eastdyke]

It is really good to see this area of derelict land brought back into use.

However, this is classed Flood Zone 3 by the Environment Agency - typically you would not be permitted to build dwellings here without a lot of mitigation - the fundamental reason being risk to life.

What I don't understand is how the Planners could have been reassured how the flood risk for this development will be managed?

Maybe Rail Depots can be built in such a way that the occasional dowsing in muddy seawater doesn't matter!

But does it really make sense to build a Rail Depot on land which is so likely to flood?

Perhaps some planning documents have been published somewhere which address these matters ...

Protection of the Depot site to the north west of the railway is already managed in the greater part by existing flood defences. In my time working at Bexford (albeit just a few years) I cannot recall any flooding or concerns for flooding.

http://maps.environment-agency.gov....only=off#x=610320&y=233129&lg=1,2,10,&scale=9

The small part of the site which is not protected appears to be near to the tunnel under the railway. I asssume that this will be managed by the configuration of the proposed access (to the tunnel).

 

[306024]

.......But does it really make sense to build a Rail Depot on land which is so likely to flood?

Perhaps some planning documents have been published somewhere which address these matters ...

They're not going to spend all that money if those matters haven't been addressed, unless it can be converted to a secret submarine base too. Is it so likely to flood? The map may suggest yes but there's obviously much more to it that a few lines drawn on paper. Interesting question nonetheless.

 

[306024]

Forgive me for not being au fait with chemical pollution but what is so toxic about the site and or ground there?

Might be nothing. But you can't be too careful, it was a chemical works. Just that pollution control wasn't as sophisticated, or so high up the political agenda in those days, The soil around the Olympic site in Stratford for example was carefully monitored during construction.

 

[Alfie1014]

I was under the impression that the Stadler Stansted units will be cycled to Crown Point not Brantham on a daily basis meaning each train will visit every couple of weeks.

That's my understanding too, that the Brantham site will be dealing with the Bombardier Aventras mainly. I was quite surprised by the size of the site (15 roads) but with so many of the new trains not fitting in to the existing depots which are based on multiples of 4, 8 and 12 it makes some sort of sense. Will traincrew be based there or stay at their existing locations, if not lots of pax and travelling time?

Single ended (due to the constraints of the site, a north end connection would need a very steep gradient if at all possible), is a bit like deja-vu with Crown Point in the 1980s which was single ended originally!

 

[Class 170101]

Remember there will be a fleet size increase anyway so the issue of space at existing sites will still be an issue.