It’s the less glamorous aspect of the business, but proper maintenance is the route to proper business. That’s probably why GB Railfreight has invested in a head-turning new maintenance facility in pretty-as-a-picture Tonbridge, in Kent, Southeast England.

It has been inaugurated with all the pleasantries and pomp with which the company has become cheerfully associated. GB Railfreight (GBRf), describing itself as one of the UK’s largest transporters of consumer and business goods, has opened a new maintenance facility in Tonbridge. It may not be foremost in the mind of any of the company’s growing customer base, but the new site will bolster the efficiency of its locomotive maintenance regime. That translates to strengthened reliability – and for customers, that’s what makes this facility a thing of beauty.

Blossomed onto the railway scene

Tonbridge, so often confused with nearby and next stop Royal Tunbridge Wells (“Tunbridge” to the locals), is a vital junction in the middle of the Garden of England, as the county of Kent is often called. Right in the middle of the complex track layout, a new building has blossomed, and it’s as blue as the bluebell flowers for which the countryside is renowned. It is a little more angular, a polite way of saying it’s a square box, but it’s blossomed onto the railway scene and is every bit as welcome.

The site was ceremonially opened by GBRf’s Chief Executive Officer, John Smith, and Maggie Simpson OBE, the Director General of the industry’s representative body, the Rail Freight Group. The new maintenance facility will complement existing sites in Doncaster and Peterborough (both on the East Coast Main Line), significantly improving the operational efficiency of GBRf’s locomotive fleet in the Southeast of England. Significant carbon savings will result from reduced journey length required for maintenance.

Additional capacity, reliability and resilience

“Our new facility at Tonbridge demonstrates our commitment to continued investment and innovation in the rail network,” said John Smith of GBRf. “The Tonbridge site will lead to increased efficiency for our locomotive fleet, which will benefit our customers, and operation of rail head treatment services will improve passenger experiences and safety across the region.” The facility, which cost around £2.5m (around €3.2m), will provide a purpose-built hub to maintain GBRf’s diesel and bi-mode fleet. The building will be operated by several partners, including EMD, Wabtec and St. Leonard’s Railway Engineering. Civils were concluded by Cairn Cross.

“The rail freight sector is committed to growth,” said Maggie Simpson from the RFG. “It’s fantastic to see private freight operators like GB Railfreight investing in facilities such as the new maintenance hub at Tonbridge. These facilities will provide additional capacity, reliability and resilience for rail freight customers across the country.” Tonbridge is a strategically important site for GBRf, which provides rail head treatment services for Network Rail from the site.