Allerton TMD is a railway depot situated in Allerton, Liverpool. Situated opposite Liverpool South Parkway bus and rail interchange, it is visible from trains which are travelling between the former and Hunts Cross and the overhead passageway above platforms 1 to 4 at Liverpool South Parkway. The depot is located less than 2 km (1.2 mi) from the Freightliner intermodal terminal at Garston Docks and is also 7 km (4.3 mi) from the Stobart Rail intermodal depot in Widnes.

Allerton TMD
Location
LocationLiverpool, Merseyside
Coordinates53°21′28″N 2°52′53″W / 53.3578°N 2.8814°W / 53.3578; -2.8814
OS gridSJ413849
Characteristics
OwnerNetwork Rail
Depot codeAN (1973–)[1]
TypeDMU and EMU
Rolling stockClass 195
Class 319[2]
Class 323
Class 331
Class 769
History
Former depot code
  • 8H (1960–63)
  • 8J (1963–73)[1]

During the days of steam locomotive operation, the shed code was 8H between 1960 and 1963 and 8J between 1963 and 1973.[3] Since 1973, when TOPS was introduced, Allerton's depot code has been AN.

History

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During the British Rail era, Allerton depot was responsible for maintaining all of the main line and shunting locomotives which were operating in the Liverpool area, having an allocation of Class 08 diesel shunters and a wheel lathe.[3]

Users

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Merseyrail

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Until 2006, when a new wheel lathe was installed at Merseyrail's Kirkdale depot,[4] Merseyrail's Class 507 and 508 electric multiple units were regularly sent to Allerton for wheel turning, being transferred via the crossover at Hunts Cross. Other units, including Virgin CrossCountry's Class 220 and 221 diesel electric multiple units (servicing only) and goods wagons and locomotives, have previously been stabled here.

Northern Rail

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From March 2011 until 31 March 2016, the depot was operated by Northern Rail.

In 2011, it was announced that Network Rail had purchased the then closed Allerton TMD with the intention of refurbishing and reopening the depot for servicing of Northern Rail's fleet of Class 156 Super Sprinter diesel multiple units and the planned allocation of Class 319 units, which were to cascade to Northern Rail for planned electrified services. Previously owned by the English Welsh and Scottish Railway, Allerton TMD re-opened on 10 December 2011.[5] The first Class 319 units entered traffic in March 2015 with the completion of the first phase of the North West Electrification programme.[6]

Arriva Rail North

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On 1 April 2016, when the new Northern franchise period commenced, operation of Allerton transferred to Arriva Rail North. The depot retained its allocation of 29 Class 156 DMUs and twenty Class 319/3 EMUs, with an additional twelve Class 319s being allocated to the depot during 2017. Whilst not on the depot's allocation, Class 150 units are stabled here overnight on weeknights after completing a Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street service.

Allerton's allocation of Class 156 units transferred to Newton Heath in 2018.

Northern Trains

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On 1 March 2020 the Northern franchise was taken over by Northern Trains as an Operators last choice by the Department for Transport and the operation of Allerton transferred to Northern Trains.

Allerton is allocated Class 195,[7] Class 323,[8] Class 331[9] and Class 769[10] units.

References

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  1. ^ a b "The all-time guide to UK Shed and Depot Codes" (PDF). TheRailwayCentre.com. 5 May 2006. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "Class 319". Modern Locomotives Illustrated. No. 228. December 2017. p. 38-43.
  3. ^ a b Marsden 1987, p. 13
  4. ^ Cadwallader & Jenkins 2010, p. 45
  5. ^ "Allerton reborn". Rail Engineer. Archived from the original on 25 December 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  6. ^ Hodgson, Neil. "New £23m train maintenance depot opens in Allerton". Liverpool Echo. Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Work gathers pace on Northern's new £492m fleet". Rail. No. 831. 19 July 2017. p. 8-9.
  8. ^ "Class 323 EMUs to remain in traffic with Northern". Rail. No. 886. August 2019. p. 30.
  9. ^ Fender, Keith. "CAF presents first Civity EMU for Northern". International Railway Journal. International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Engine testing about to begin on Flex Class 769s". Rail. No. 834. 30 August 2017. p. 12.

Sources

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  • Baker, S.K. (1980) [1977]. Rail Atlas of Britain (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-86093-106-4.
  • Baker, S.K. (2007) [1977]. Rail Atlas - Great Britain & Ireland (11th ed.). Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-86093-602-2.