VolkerFitzpatrick is to build the replacement the First Great Western Turbo depot at Reading after beating Laing O’Rourke and Vinci Construction to the £36.2m contract.
The new facility, which will open in 2013, is required as part of the Reading remodelling scheme which will see the station’s approach simplified and the construction of an additional 5 platforms.
In addition to being able to maintain the train operator’s fleet of turbo trains, the new depot will have the capacity to service the new IEP trains that are to be introduced on the route from 2017.
Steel bases will be included in the construction to allow electrification of the depot to be relatively straightforward as part of the under development Great Western electrification project.
The current depot is having to be demolished to make way for a new eastern chord which will allow for grade separation of the main lines.
