Planning work to upgrade the roof at Greater Anglia’s Norwich depot has entered the detailed design stage, led by rail infrastructure specialist Spencer Rail Engineering.
The project will see the replacement of the depot’s main roof cladding, alongside upgrades to skylights, safe walkways and access arrangements to support future maintenance. New systems will also be incorporated, including fire detection, ventilation, electrical upgrades, and lightning protection.
Spencer Rail Engineering began work on the initial scope in August 2025 and has now progressed into detailed design, supported by a plan developed in collaboration with depot engineers to identify access requirements, constraints, risks and opportunities for efficiency.
During this phase, which is expected to conclude in spring 2026, all technical drawings, specifications, and calculations will be completed, ensuring that design risks, regulatory requirements and existing building issues are fully addressed.
Once design work is complete, construction can begin at the busy Crown Point depot, which services up to 27 trains over a 24-hour period.
Andrew Goodrum, infrastructure and projects director for Greater Anglia, said: “The Crown Point depot in Norwich is a vital maintenance hub for Greater Anglia’s train fleet, supporting services from Norwich and Stansted Airport to London, as well as regional routes across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk.
“We look forward to reviewing the detailed plans developed by Spencer Rail Engineering and thank them for their thorough and considered approach, which will help ensure this essential facility continues to support rail services across East Anglia for decades to come.”
James Barnes, Principal Engineer at Spencer Rail Engineering, added: “We are looking forward to getting into the details of the architectural and engineering work. By combining practical engineering with thoughtful design, we can create a solution that meets the depot’s needs today while also considering future maintenance and operations.”
“Our goal is to deliver a design that works smoothly for Greater Anglia, meeting their objectives with as little disruption as possible. By taking a collaborative approach, we can give the client confidence that the roof and canopy will perform well in the long term, providing a long-lasting solution.”
Image credit: Greater Anglia
