Behind the Scenes at Alstom Derby Litchurch Lane Works

Young Rail Professionals (YRP) East Midlands members recently enjoyed an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit to Alstom's Derby Litchurch Lane Works, one of the UK's most historic and significant railway manufacturing facilities.The visit offered a unique opportunity to explore two very different but equally important sides of the railway industry: the construction of modern rolling stock and the preservation of railway heritage. The day was split into two sessions, allowing members to gain insight into both the future and the past of Britain's railways.

Exploring Modern Train Manufacturing

The day began with a welcome from Mark Ellis, Site Project Director, who provided an overview of Alstom and the rich history of Derby Litchurch Lane Works.With more than 150 years of railway manufacturing heritage, the site has played a major role in building trains for the UK rail network and remains the country's only facility where train design and manufacturing take place on the same site. Mark's presentation offered valuable insight into the site's evolution, its current programmes and its continuing importance to the UK rail industry.

Following the presentation, members were given a tour of the production line for the Elizabeth line Aventra fleet. The group followed the journey of a train from individual structural components through to a completed vehicle, gaining a valuable appreciation of the scale, complexity and coordination involved in modern train manufacturing.Along the way, attendees observed roof sections, side panels, underframes, equipment installation activities and fully assembled carriages. The tour highlighted the many disciplines involved in delivering a modern passenger train, including engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance, logistics and project management. As an added bonus, members were also able to catch a glimpse of the ongoing Voyager fleet refurbishment programme, demonstrating how Derby continues to support both the construction of new trains and the modernisation of existing fleets.

Preserving Railway Heritage

In the afternoon, the focus shifted from the future of rail to its past, with a visit hosted by the Class 507 Preservation Group.Members were introduced to preserved unit 507001, the first member of the British Rail Class 507 fleet and the only example currently preserved. Having spent more than four decades operating passenger services on the Merseyrail network, the train now serves as an important educational and heritage asset. The preservation team provided an engaging and informative tour of the vehicle, sharing their experiences of restoring and maintaining the train while explaining the engineering systems that kept it in service for over 40 years.Attendees had the opportunity to examine equipment beneath the train and learn about key railway systems including traction equipment, braking systems, air compressors, bogies, suspension arrangements, couplers and third-rail power collection. While many members were familiar with these concepts in theory, seeing the equipment up close helped bring rolling stock engineering to life.

Particular interest was generated by discussions around the train's third-rail DC traction system, which collects power from a conductor rail, and how this compares with overhead line electrification used elsewhere on the UK network. Members also learned about traditional traction control equipment and braking systems, providing useful comparisons with the more advanced digital and power-electronic systems found on modern rolling stock. The session offered a valuable reminder that preserving railway vehicles is not only about protecting history but also about retaining engineering knowledge. Preserved trains such as 507001 provide unique opportunities for learning, helping current and future railway professionals understand the technologies and operating principles that have shaped today's railway.

Engineering Insight and Career Inspiration

Following the technical walkthrough, members attended a presentation from Robert Stickley, Project Engineering Manager at Alstom, who provided an overview of Alstom's activities within the UK and global rail industry.The presentation highlighted the company's work across rolling stock, maintenance, signalling and wider transport solutions, helping attendees understand the breadth of opportunities available within the rail sector. It also reinforced the importance of innovation, collaboration and engineering excellence in delivering a modern railway.

Thanks

YRP East Midlands would like to extend its sincere thanks to the entire Alstom team for making this visit possible, including Alec Littlefair, Mark Ellis, and Robert Stickley, for their hospitality, time and willingness to share their knowledge and experience with our members. We would also like to thank Tom Camp and the Class 507 Preservation Group for providing a fascinating insight into the preservation of unit 507001 and for demonstrating the important role that heritage projects play in educating and inspiring future railway professionals.

Following the success of this event, YRP East Midlands is already looking at organising another depot tour in September 2026, so stay tuned to our website and social media channels for further details and upcoming opportunities to get involved.