Allerton TMD

Allerton TMD is a railway depot situated in Allerton, Liverpool. Situated opposite Liverpool South Parkway bus and rail interchange, it is visible from trains which are travelling between the former and Hunts Cross and the overhead passageway above platforms 1 to 4 at Liverpool South Parkway. The depot is located less than 2 km (1.2 mi) from the Freightliner intermodal terminal at Garston Docks and is also 7 km (4.3 mi) from the Stobart Rail intermodal depot in Widnes.

Allerton TMD

Allerton TMD, seen from the line between Liverpool South Parkway and Hunts Cross
Location
Location	Liverpool, Merseyside
Coordinates	53.3578°N 2.8814°W
OS grid	SJ413849
Characteristics
Owner(s)	Network Rail
Depot code(s)	AN (1973–)[1]
Type	DMU and EMU
Rolling stock	Current: Class 319 Class 323 Class 331 Class 195 Future: Class 769
History
Former depot code(s)	8H (1960–63) 8J (1963–73)[1]

During the days of steam locomotive operation, the shed code was 8H between 1960 and 1963 and 8J between 1963 and 1973.[2] Since 1973, when TOPS was introduced, Allerton's depot code has been AN.

History

During the British Rail era, Allerton depot was responsible for maintaining all of the main line and shunting locomotives which were operating in the Liverpool area, having an allocation of Class 08 diesel shunters and a wheel lathe.[2]

Users

Merseyrail

Until 2006, when a new wheel lathe was installed at Merseyrail's Kirkdale depot,[3] Merseyrail's Class 507 and 508 electric multiple units were regularly sent to Allerton for wheel turning, being transferred via the crossover at Hunts Cross. Other units, including Virgin CrossCountry's Class 220 and 221 diesel electric multiple units (servicing only) and goods wagons and locomotives, have previously been stabled here.

Northern Rail

From March 2011 until 31 March 2016, the depot was operated by Northern Rail.

In 2011, it was announced that Network Rail had purchased the then closed Allerton TMD with the intention of refurbishing and reopening the depot for servicing of Northern Rail's fleet of Class 156 Super Sprinter diesel multiple units and the planned allocation of Class 319 units, which were to cascade to Northern Rail for planned electrified services. Previously owned by the English Welsh and Scottish Railway, Allerton TMD re-opened on 10 December 2011.[4] The first Class 319 units entered traffic in March 2015 with the completion of the first phase of the North West Electrification programme.[5]

Northern

On 1 April 2016, when the new Northern franchise period commenced, operation of Allerton transferred to Northern. The depot retained its allocation of 29 Class 156 DMUs and twenty Class 319/3 EMUs, with an additional twelve Class 319s being allocated to the depot during 2017. Whilst not on the depot's allocation, Class 142 and/or Class 150 units are stabled here overnight on weeknights after completing a Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street service.

As part of Northern's fleet renewal, Allerton's allocation will change. From 2020, it will be allocated Class 195,[6] Class 323, Class 331[7] and Class 769[8] units. Allerton's allocation of Class 156 units transferred to Newton Heath in 2018, where they will replace Class 142 Pacer units, which are to be withdrawn.

As of 1 March 2020 Northern franchise was taken over by Northern trains Ltd (Northern) as an Operators last choice by the Department for Transport

References

1. "The all-time guide to UK Shed and Depot Codes" (PDF). TheRailwayCentre.com. 5 May 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
2. Marsden 1987, p. 13
3. Cadwallader & Jenkins 2010, p. 45
4. "Allerton reborn". Rail Engineer. Rail Engineer. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
5. Hodgson, Neil. "New £23m train maintenance depot opens in Allerton". Liverpool Echo. Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
6. Clinnick, Richard. "Northern's fleet". PressReader.com. Rail Magazine. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
7. Fender, Keith. "CAF presents first Civity EMU for Northern". International Railway Journal. International Railway Journal. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
8. Clinnick, Richard. "Engine testing about to begin on Flex Class 769s". PressReader.com. Rail Magazine. Retrieved 24 December 2017.

Sources

• Baker, S.K. (1980) [1977]. Rail Atlas of Britain (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-86093-106-4.
• Baker, S.K. (2007) [1977]. Rail Atlas - Great Britain & Ireland (11th ed.). Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-86093-602-2.

• Cadwallader, Jonathan; Jenkins, Martin (2010). Merseyside Electrics. Ian Allan. ISBN 9780711034174. OCLC 455806364.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Marsden, Colin J. (1987). BR Depots. Motive power recognition. 6. Ian Allan. ISBN 9780711017191. OCLC 18685680.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)