New-generation multiple units built to replace slam-door trains have brought a revolution in rolling stock maintenance and staff safety. Manufacturer servicing at new purpose-built depots is fast becoming the norm.

The trend snowballed in 2006 with traincare centres opened by Siemens Transportation Systems in Manchester and Northampton, UK. These facilities for Silverlink/Central Trains and First TransPennine Express emulate Siemens’ depot in Southampton for South West Trains, completed in 2003.
As supplier of Desiro variants for several operators, Siemens holds long-term maintenance contracts. These demand high availability, with rapid daily servicing and equally efficient heavy maintenance, such as bogie changes inside two hours.   
Sheffield-based Mechan was selected to supply a 10-tonne scissor-type bogie drop for Southampton (Northam). Its success led to orders for Mechan drop systems at Manchester (Ardwick), where diesel Desiros may require underfloor engine removal, and Northampton (Kings Heath). At these two locations Siemens specified Mechan’s ‘intelligent’ screw-jack bogie drops. Requiring half the depth of hydraulic drops, under three metres, these bring construction cost savings and operational advantages.
Siemens has also chosen Mechan’s trademarked Smart Depot Protection System (DPS) to aid security and safety at all of its UK traincare centres. This flexible system interlocks with depot equipment and uses Datakey’s programmed with user information and authorisation levels to help ensure that staff activity and vehicle movements are controlled at minimal risk to safety.
The Smart DPS is fully programmable and can be set up to the precise requirements of the customer. It is pre-configured to comply with other Mechan equipment, but can be modified for connection to third-party products. All depot personnel have a datakey, which replaces the traditional personal padlock in old safety systems. It is set up with the user’s personal information and their authorisation level – depot staff, supervisor or engineer – and can be extended to the LONworks (registered) network to include areas such as door control. The DPS system interlocks these keys along with all other elements of the system, including derailers, shunt signals, treadle/track switches, and to the equipment within the depot, via Mechan’s unique Micro-Link technology.
Mechan are very proud to announce that their Depot Protection Systems are soon to be installed in the Dubai Metro workshops at Jebel Ali and Rashidiya which serve the red line.  The Depot Protection System will provide an unrivalled maintenance and safety system thus guaranteeing the same levels of safety for maintenance staff as that guaranteed outside the workshops to passengers, all the while ensuring that  Mistubishi’s impressive fleet of 99 five-car, driverless trains will be correctly cared for through a comprehensive maintenance programme.
Mechan considers their involvement in the Dubai Metro to be a great opportunity; proud of the fact that the company is involved in one of the worlds most prestigious transport projects, but also for the fact that by providing a local reference, Mechan is justified in its aims to further develop the use of Mechan’s DPS and maintenance equipment throughout the Gulf.