Train wash depot plan for village withdrawn

A proposal to build an East West Rail (EWR) train maintenance centre by a village has been withdrawn.

The company had suggested building the facility at Fulbourn, just south of Cambridge.

CEO David Hughes said it was now confident "existing rail industry-owned sites" would be able to meet the needs of the train operators.

Pippa Heylings, the Liberal Democrat MP for South Cambridgeshire, said: "This will rightly bring much relief to local residents and businesses."

While the company first suggested the location earlier this year, it had continued to work with Network Rail and train operators to look at alternative proposals, it said.

"This is a significant step forward and has only been possible because the rail industry has worked together to find a better way of meeting our requirements for a train care centre," said Hughes.

"We recognise the interest and concerns raised locally about the proposed Fulbourn site, which is why it was important to continue exploring alternatives while keeping the site in scope until we had sufficient confidence in an alternative solution."

EWR said the creation of Great British Railways - a public body formed as part of government plans to renationalise the railways - meant it could collaborate with regional train operators to find these alternatives.

The facilities will be in place before it starts its work on Cambridge station, EWR added.

Heylings said: "This result is a real credit to Fulbourn Forum, parish councils and all those in Fulbourn, the Wilbrahams and beyond who took the time to respond to the consultation and make their voices heard."

Train care centres are used to stable and clean passenger trains.

Once completed, East West Rail will connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.

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