Work has begun on a multi-million pound project to prepare a Norwich depot for the new fleet of trains that will serve the region from 2019.

Eastern Daily Press: Artist impression of the Crown Point depot in Norwich. Picture Greater Anglia.Artist impression of the Crown Point depot in Norwich. Picture Greater Anglia. (Image: Archant)

Greater Anglia is investing more than £40m in the scheme which will see the Crown Point depot, which opened in 1982, transformed to accommodate the longer trains.

The large scale expansion will include better facilities to house and maintain the 58 new trains being built by Stadler, as well as a new train washing facility, improved servicing equipment and the ability to store and dispense more fuel.

The depot will also gain upgraded toilet maintenance facilities, as all the new trains will have large tanks to collect waste, rather than emptying it onto the tracks.

Stadler will be responsible for maintaining its brand new trains at the depot and around 70 Greater Anglia staff will transfer to Stadler, with some spending time training with the company across Europe.

Mike Kean, Greater Anglia's franchise and programmes director, said, 'The investment in Crown Point depot is great news for Norwich and Norfolk. We're committed to the region we serve and playing our part in supporting its development, so we're very pleased to be able to create a new centre of excellence for train maintenance in East Anglia, in partnership with Stadler.'

While the work is carried out Greater Anglia has leased an additional depot at Colchester from Balfour Beatty.

Hein van der Schoot, managing director of Stadler Rail Service UK, added: 'The major upgrade of the current facility, ahead of the introduction of the new fleet, will mean that the Stadler trains are serviced and maintained at the highest level to ensure optimum performance.

'The construction work represents a critical milestone within the project, and we look forward to continued close working with Greater Anglia throughout this vital stage in the process and beyond.'

The new trains will include 10 12-carriage intercity trains for the Norwich to London mainline and 10 12-carriage Stansted Express trains for services between London Liverpool Street and the airport

Other trains will be built for regional services across Norfolk and Suffolk.