THE ScotRail Alliance has installed new equipment worth £1.6 million at Inverness Depot in an effort to improve train performance in the Highlands.
A mobile wheel lathe has been put in place, which will boost the performance and reliability of services taking passengers between Inverness and Aberdeen, Kyle of Lochalsh, Wick and Thurso.
The machine reprofiles train wheels – which can become misshapen – and removes imperfections or flat spots to keep them completely round without needing to remove them from the train.
Previously, this time-consuming task involved taking the trains to the Central Belt to allow the work to be carried out.
Transport Scotland’s rolling stock programme manager Dougie Andrews said: “Passengers across the Highlands will be delighted that this equipment is now being used to help enable trains to return to service quickly and provide a more reliable level of performance.”
The £1.6m project has been funded through Network Rail’s Control Period 5 Scottish Network Improvement Fund, where investment was made available to deliver enhancements to the rail network and services.
Andrews went on: “This Scottish Government funding builds upon the significant ongoing investment in infrastructure and rolling stock across the area, enabling more services and seats to be provided.
“This, in turn, is helping make rail travel a more attractive choice for commuters and leisure travellers in the north of Scotland.”
The ScotRail Alliance also introduced synchronised lifting jacks that allow two-carriage trains to be lifted at the same time, reducing the time it takes to service the train.
Both ScotRail’s existing Class 158 trains and new fleet of high-speed Inter7City trains will be serviced at Inverness Depot.
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