Alstom opens Glasgow’s Polmadie Depot to the public for the first time in 25 years to celebrate 150 years of rail heritage

Polmadie Depot 1940s-1950s (Credit – Colin Duncan)

(IN BRIEF) Alstom is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its Glasgow Traincare Centre, known as Polmadie Depot, with a public open day on 12 October—the first in 25 years. The event will feature historic and modern rolling stock displays, including locomotives from the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, GB Railfreight, and the Caledonian Sleeper, which will open its Mark 5 coaches to visitors. Family activities and rail technology demonstrations will also be part of the programme. The celebrations include a special railtour organised by the Branch Line Society, linking Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works with Polmadie, offering enthusiasts a chance to ride rare depot track. The anniversary coincides with global Railway 200 celebrations and follows Alstom’s major gathering of trains in Derby. Tickets, available from 9 September, are priced from £150, with proceeds supporting cancer care and children’s charities in Glasgow.

(PRESS RELEASE) SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, 9-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Alstom will mark the 150th anniversary of its Glasgow Traincare Centre, better known as Polmadie Depot, by opening its doors to the public for the first time in 25 years. The celebratory open day will take place on Sunday 12 October, providing rail enthusiasts and the local community with a rare chance to step inside one of Scotland’s most significant railway facilities.

Situated just two miles from Glasgow Central, the Polmadie site has been at the heart of rail operations for generations. Today, it is home to over 100 staff who maintain and clean the iconic Caledonian Sleeper fleet, while also servicing Avanti West Coast’s Class 390 Pendolinos. Originally opened on 16 September 1875 as Polmadie Shed under the Caledonian Railway, the depot has continually evolved to meet the demands of Scotland’s railway system, from the steam era through to modern electric services.

Alstom Glasgow Traincare Centre (Credit – Alstom)

Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom, reflected on the milestone: “For 150 years, Polmadie has been more than a maintenance site—it’s a cornerstone of railway heritage and a hub of engineering expertise. This open day allows us to celebrate that history while also looking ahead, inspiring the next generation to carry forward Scotland’s proud rail legacy.”

The anniversary event promises a showcase of rolling stock spanning the depot’s history. Visitors arriving by shuttle bus from Glasgow Central will be able to view locomotives including a Class 37 from the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, a Freightliner Class 90, Polmadie’s own Class 08 shunters, and additional locomotives provided by GB Railfreight, including a Class 99, Class 92, Class 73/9 and Class 66. The Caledonian Sleeper will also open several of its Mark 5 coaches to the public, offering a glimpse into its “hotel on wheels” service that has connected Scotland and London since 1873.

To mark the occasion, Alstom will also provide interactive family activities and demonstrations of modern rail technology, including advanced simulation tools. Graham Kelly, Interim Managing Director at Caledonian Sleeper, praised the event’s importance: “This site has played a vital role in supporting safe and comfortable journeys for generations. We’re proud to celebrate Polmadie’s history as part of this milestone, honouring the past while focusing on the future.”

Celebrations will also include a special railtour on Saturday 11 October. Organised by the Branch Line Society, the charter—named To the Birthplace and the Backbone—will link Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works with Polmadie Depot, symbolically connecting two major sites of British railway heritage. Hauled by RailAdventure Class 43 locomotives with Derby-built Mark 3 coaches from the 125 Group, the train will traverse rare depot track at Polmadie, guided by the site’s resident Class 08 shunters.

This event forms part of wider commemorations for Railway 200, the bicentenary of the modern railway, which Alstom previously celebrated with The Greatest Gathering at its Derby factory—an event that welcomed 40,000 visitors and featured the largest display of historic and modern trains ever assembled. Tickets for the Polmadie 150 railtour, which include entry to the open day, will go on sale at 19:00 BST on Tuesday 9 September via the Branch Line Society, with prices starting at £150. Proceeds will benefit two charities: The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and the Railway Children’s Glasgow Project.

About Alstom
Alstom commits to contribute to a low carbon future by developing and promoting innovative and sustainable transportation solutions that people enjoy riding. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, Alstom offers its diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. With its presence in 63 countries and a talent base of over 86,000 people from 184 nationalities, the company focuses its design, innovation, and project management skills to where mobility solutions are needed most. Listed in France, Alstom generated sales of €18.5 billion for the fiscal year ending on 31 March 2025.

For more information, please visit www.alstom.com.

Media Contact::

Ben GOODWIN – Tel.: +44 (0) 7935 348 065
ben.goodwin@alstomgroup.com

SOURCE: Alstom