PRIME Minister Theresa May officially opened a new £4.5million EMU stabling point in her Maidenhead constituency on June 30.
The sidings are a key part of Network Rail’s electrification of the Great Western Main Line in preparation for Crossrail.
In the short-term they enable Great Western Railway (GWR) to replace Class 165/166 DMUs with longer electric trains and significantly increase capacity for commuter traffic.
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The sidings allow GWR to introduce a further three new eight-carriage Class 387 ‘Electrostar’ units on the route.
The stabling sidings have been delivered 18 months earlier than planned. Electrification between Maidenhead and London Paddington was also completed ahead of schedule after being funded and delivered by the Crossrail project. The new sidings will be used by Crossrail Class 345 EMUs from 2019.
Read more in the August issue of The RM – on sale now!