Princess Anne recently opened a new multi-million-pound workshop at Wabtec Rail’s (
www.wabtecrail.co.uk) Doncaster facility, to initially support the Class 321 overhaul programme.
The first of 30 units to be refurbished as part of the £60 million Renatus scheme are already in Doncaster. Initial ‘dirty’ work will be carried out in the existing Light Shop before the 321s are moved over to the new facility.
The first complete 321 will take around six months to refurbish, but Wabtec hopes to eventually produce a complete train in just 36 days.
The first vehicles will return to service early next year. The Princess Royal toured Wabtec’s Station 3, Heavy Shop and Light Shop before unveiling a commemorative plaque in the new workshop, which is still to be named.