Glasgow Works

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Location: Springburn, Glasgow
Operator: Gemini Rail Services(UK) Limited
Current User: ScotRail
Previous Users: Northern Rail, DRS, SPT

The Gemini Rail Services facility in Glasgow was formerly known as St. Rollox, Railcare Springburn, Knorr-Bremse Springburn or Alstom Train Renovation Centre, and was originally built as the main works of the Caledonian Railway Company.

The core work at the Glasgow Works has been the overhauls of Class 156, Class 158 DMUs and bogie overhauls on Class 314, Class 318 and Class 320 EMUs for ScotRail.

EMUs visiting the works require haulage by diesel locomotives using Translator vans coupled at either end, from late 2017/start of 2018 however the hire of Europhoenix/Rail Operations Group Class 37 locos with fitted coupler adapters (typically 37800 or 37884), or DRS Class 57 'Thunderbird' locos with their retractable bars have seen use.

Until the 12th May 2018, Glasgow Works had its own British Rail era translator vans (ADB 975864 + ADB 975867), but due to their deteriorating state and wheel flats were moved south to Loughborough for potential use with the Class 769 project before cutting up.

Proposed Closure
In early December 2018, the then new owner of the works, Gemini Rail Services (having recently taken over from Knorr-Bremse), announced plans to close the plant due to decline in work over the years and blame on the site of late introduction to Scotrail trains.

The site is currently in a consultation period and refurbishment jobs are still in progress. More information can be found in the RAIL News Article found in the external links at the bottom of the page.

Current Work

Previous Work
See Rolling stock reports for 2007-2015

Resident Shunter

One class 08 shunting loco is based at the Works, 08730.
There had previously been two: 08568 named "St Rollox" had been out of use for many years but was sold to Railway Support Services in Wishaw, Warwickshire by the end of 2017.

Class 08 loco 08730 recently painted in Knorr-Bremse colours of blue, white and green. No branding or numbers have been applied. Seen shunting at Glasgow Works (Springburn) on 31st October 2013. Photo by Jeffray Wotherspoon


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