Spencer Group has been selected to construct a £17 million wheel lathe facility at Clacton Rail Depot in Essex for Greater Anglia, marking a significant investment in the railway operator’s infrastructure.
The facility, set to be completed by May 2025, will allow Greater Anglia to service its rolling stock more efficiently, improving train performance and reducing downtime.
This will be the first time that Greater Anglia has its own permanent wheel lathe facility. A wheel lathe is essential for maintaining the condition of train wheels, which can develop flat spots through daily wear and tear. The lathe measures the size of each wheel, calculates how much metal needs to be removed, and then re-profiles the wheel to restore its roundness.
Once the cutting process is complete, the wheels are measured again to ensure they meet quality standards before the train returns to service.
Spencer Group will design and construct the 5,000m² facility, located on land previously occupied by the Clacton Steam Shed and the unused approach road area from the existing Shunting Spur. This development will allow Greater Anglia to service its entire fleet, from three-car trains to 12-car units, enhancing the operational capacity of the depot.
Greater Anglia’s client and programme director Andrew Goodrum highlighted the benefits of the new facility: “Not only will this £17M investment into Clacton improve the performance and reliability of services in the region, but it will also provide many new highly skilled jobs. Once complete in Summer 2025, trains will be able to be serviced much quicker than before, allowing them to return to passenger service faster.”
The wheel lathe, manufactured by German railway and automotive tools specialist Hegenscheidt-MFD, will play a key role in ensuring that Greater Anglia’s trains remain in optimal condition, reducing delays and increasing service reliability.
The construction of the facility will include modifications to the track, depot protection, signalling, a locally operated points system, and overhead line equipment. Enabling works have already been carried out by specialist rail and civil engineering teams, with full construction now set to begin.
Tony Wells, Spencer Group’s pre-construction project director, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “We are delighted to be delivering this project for Greater Anglia to enhance the facilities at the busy Clacton depot. Working in areas with tight constraints is where Spencer Group thrives, and our team is highly experienced in delivering high-quality results within complex working environments.”
Wells also emphasised the collaborative effort between Spencer Group, Greater Anglia, and third-party stakeholders to ensure that existing facilities at Clacton remain operational throughout the construction process, minimising disruption to daily railway services.
Once completed, the new wheel lathe facility will be a significant asset for Greater Anglia, allowing for faster maintenance and improved reliability across its fleet. The investment is also expected to boost local employment, offering skilled job opportunities in the area. By enabling quicker servicing and reducing train downtime, the facility will help improve service performance for passengers across the region.
As the project moves ahead, Greater Anglia’s Clacton Rail Depot is set to become a key hub for maintaining the railway operator’s fleet, contributing to more efficient and reliable train services throughout East Anglia.
