Lifting jacks do the business

Translink’s Adelaide train maintenance facility in Belfast is the latest recipient of rail handling equipment designed, constructed and installed by Mechan’s engineers.

The £28 million, purpose built facility is equipped with 12 of Mechan’s lifting jacks, along with two engine removal tables and two bogie turntables. They are being used to service the 20 new Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), Class 4000 trains, recently introduced to the local network, to renew and expand its existing fleet.

This latest order placed by Adelaide’s main contractor, Graham Construction, complements the lifting jacks and engine removal tables Mechan installed at Translink’s York Road engineering facility in Belfast in 2002.

Richard Carr, Mechan’s managing director, said: “Boosting capacity on Belfast’s rail network was the key to improving the services offered to customers, but as the existing local depots were at full stretch, this meant investing in a third facility. Adelaide exemplifies recent developments in depot maintenance, offering staff a safe, efficient environment in which to work, resulting in a faster turnaround and more reliable rail service.”

Located on a brown field site south of Belfast, Adelaide was developed as part of the New Trains Two programme, a £150 million initiative to deliver high quality, accessible public transport to local residents.