A state-of-the-art wheel lathe, named ‘Tina’, has been installed at Allerton TrainCare Centre in Merseyside as part of an GBP 8.9 million collaboration between Network Rail and Northern. The new equipment is set to improve train maintenance efficiency by reshaping and balancing wheels, reducing track impact, and ensuring a smoother journey for passengers.
The lathe replaces an older machine, ‘Charlotte’, and has doubled the depot’s wheel-lathing capacity. The installation process involved excavating 1,600 tonnes of soil, stone, and concrete, with an additional 184 tonnes of concrete used to secure the lathe in place.
“Tina is a very much welcomed addition to the engineering arsenal and will enable us to repair wheels without having to remove them from the train, which makes the process far more efficient. Turning wheels on the lathe extends their life and reduces the costs associated with replacing them. The increase in wheel lathing capacity also means trains will spend less time out of passenger service for maintenance. “This has been a significant project to deliver requiring perseverance and co-operation on all sides and I am thankful to the team at Network Rail, my colleagues here at Northern and our suppliers for delivering this fabulous new capability,” Jack Commandeur, Engineering Director at Northern, said.
Clinton Ralphs, North West Route Sponsor for Network Rail, highlighted the project’s benefits: “It’s fantastic to see the new tandem wheel lathe now operational at Allerton TrainCare Centre, significantly improving the efficiency of our wheel turning process.
“This joint venture with Northern has allowed us to revive a key aspect of Allerton depot’s history, by installing the new wheel lathe equipment at the depot, giving improved capacity, performance and reliability for Northern. After much anticipation, it’s wonderful to witness its arrival, which will undoubtedly enhance the engineering capabilities at the depot.”
“Tina is an excellent example of partnership working, demonstrating how DFTO train operators and Network Rail are working together to drive efficiencies, improve performance, and deliver a more reliable railway for passengers,” Robin Gisby, Chief Executive Operator at DFTO, added.
Engineers at the depot have undergone training on the new lathe, which is now fully operational. The team at Allerton was recently recognised with a ‘Silver Spanner’ award in November for their work in maintaining Northern’s Class 323 fleet.
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