Ardwick train depot
The Ardwick train depot is a passenger multiple unit maintenance depot in Ardwick, Greater Manchester. The depot was opened in 2006 for the servicing of Siemens-built Class 185 DMUs, which are used on the TransPennine Express franchise. It was electrified in 2012–13 to allow the servicing of Siemens Class 350/4 EMUs. Location. Ardwick depot is located approximately east of Ardwick railway station, north of the Manchester-Glossop Line and south of the A635 road. The depot code is AK. History. In the 1840s the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway was constructed between Manchester Store  Street station (Manchester Piccadilly) and Sheffield Victoria railway station. Initially the site of the depot was just outside the urban spread of Manchester, the area being used for brick manufacture. Subsequently the area east of Ardwick station and north of the line was used for railway sidings, including goods sheds, the wider area becoming known as 'Ardwick West Goods Depot and Mineral Yard', later 'Ardwick West Freight Terminal'. The site remained in railway use through most of the 20th century, but became disused by 1990. Siemens use. In 2003 Siemens became preferred bidder to supply and maintain a fleet of  diesel multiple units for use on the TransPennine Express franchise. The £260 million contract included the provision and supply of maintenance facilities, with the primary facility in Manchester, as well as a secondary depot in York. In 2004 Siemens applied to construct sidings, train facilities and offices on the Ardwick site. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in March 2005. The depot was constructed on the site over 13 months, being completed on 3 April 2006, at a cost of about £30M. The designers were Burks Green; Taylor Woodrow were the main contractors; NG Bailey and Atkins Rail were  subcontractors. The main shed was a building capable of holding eight trains – a four-road shed with two three-car trains per road – with facilities including wheel lathe, train jacks, and bogie and engine drops. The depot was officially opened on 16 May 2006 by Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander. In February 2012 Siemens obtained a contract to build and maintain 20 Class 350 "Desiro" 25 kV AC electric trains, including ten Class 350/4 units for First TransPennine Express. The contract required the electrification of the depot. Work to modify the depot began in September 2012, with Spencer Rail (Spencer Group ) as the main contractor. The depot was extended at the western end by to allow four -car units to be accommodated, with one shed road and all of the outside track electrified. The estimated cost of the project was £5 million. The depot electrification was ceremonially opened by Lucy Powell (MP) on 27 September 2013. The first of the Class 350/4 trains arrived at the depot on 28 November 2013.