Craigentinny Service Delivery Depot

In the heart of Edinburgh, nestled in the Craigentinny area, lies a place of tireless activity and fascinating history: the Craigentinny Service Delivery Depot. This isn’t just a depot. It’s a vital hub in the Scottish railway network, a place where engineering prowess meets the romance of the rails. Craigentinny Service Delivery Depot opened its doors in 1904. It started as a humble carriage sidings. Over the decades, it has evolved into a crucial maintenance center, playing a key role in keeping Scotland’s trains running. Craigentinny has witnessed the comings and goings of iconic trains. It has served as home to InterCity 125 HSTs, the workhorses of the London North Eastern Railway. These high-speed trains graced the rails until 2019. More recently, Craigentinny has serviced CrossCountry InterCity 125 HSTs, which operated until September 2023. Today, the depot continues to maintain a variety of train models. It handles the Class 220/221 Voyagers for CrossCountry. It also cares for the sleek Class 397s of the TransPennine Express. In 2018, a new chapter began for Craigentinny Service Delivery Depot when Hitachi Rail took over its operation. This marked a significant shift in the depot’s history and further cemented its importance within the UK’s rail infrastructure. Hitachi Rail now maintains a wide range of trains at Craigentinny. These include the London North Eastern Railway’s Class 800s and 801s, as well as the ScotRail Class 385s. Craigentinny also services TransPennine Express Class 802s and Lumo Class 803s. Even the Caledonian Sleeper’s Class 73s receive attention at this bustling depot. Craigentinny Service Delivery Depot is more than just a maintenance facility. It also houses a wheel lathe at its Portobello Edinburgh site. This lathe is essential for repairing tyre damage on rail vehicle wheels, serving numerous rail operators. The depot itself is a marvel of engineering, comprising three maintenance sheds. Two of these sheds are equipped with 25,000-volt overhead wires. A smaller repair shed caters to shorter trains and locomotives. In addition, the depot boasts several storage and stabling sidings. The Craigentinny depot played a key role in the Intercity Express Programme (IEP). It underwent improvements to support the introduction of Hitachi Europe’s Intercity Express bi-mode fleet in 2017. These improvements included track renewals, overhead line equipment alterations, and new fuel and AdBlue systems. A state-of-the-art Garrandale washing plant was installed, capable of washing trains at sub-zero temperatures and recycling a significant portion of the water used. So, as you stand before the Craigentinny Service Delivery Depot, remember that you’re looking at more than just a collection of buildings and tracks. You’re witnessing a vital part of Scotland’s railway heritage, a place where the past, present, and future of rail travel converge.