Bombardier Transportation has opened a new 300,000m² rail maintenance depot in Melzo, Italy, situated within the Rail Hub Milano (RHM) logistics district.
The new facility will offer standard services and support locomotive and rolling stock maintenance.
Its intermodal terminal features 12km of rail track comprising four tracks of 750m, as well as an additional three tracks measuring 550m, with 12 tracks to be used as junctions and external parking.
Bombardier Transportation Middle East, Africa and Italy Services head Pierre Cicion said: “The Melzo depot will enable Bombardier to strengthen its services offering by providing rapid response to locomotives that need urgent support.
“The workshop is engineered to offer ‘pit-stops’, high-turnover, brief and frequent on-site operations.”
Bombardier’s new site is expected to manage around 400 locomotive maintenance operations per year and the number can be further increased by taking over international operators, which use in-house assistance abroad.
The opening ceremony was organised with the partnership of the owners of RHM and Italian logistics company Contship Italia.
Contship Italia Business Services group managing director Sebastiano Grasso said: “The shared investment in Melzo depot with Bombardier has enhanced this intra-European and intercontinental crossroads with a powerful, rapid-reaction maintenance capability.
“This not only keeps trains rolling, but also lowers environmental impact by limiting the logistical reliance on freight trucking.”
Bombardier intends to offer 24/7 service from the new depot, which is also expected to facilitate the growth of Milan Logistical Business District.
Image: Bombardier Transportation Middle East, Africa and Italy Services head Pierre Cicion (l) and Contship Italia Business Services group managing director Sebastiano Grasso (R) at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.
