Ashford MDU Gas Removal
Region, Route & Location: Southern Region | Kent Route | Ashford MDU
The images above show the air source heat pump and solar panels installed at the Maintenance Delivery Unit (MDU)
In CP6 Ashford Maintenance Delivery Unit had a life expired boiler which provided a great opportunity to look at more sustainable solutions for heating and cooling. Ashford MDU was selected for gas removal, due to high energy consumption. We had an opportunity to deliver multiple decarbonisation initiatives at this site as one major project. At the end of CP7 Year 1 we completed the project.
The outcomes of the scheme included:
- Replaced gas boiler with an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP).
- Installed new power supply, modern heating/cooling, and a new Building Management System to control the new system.
- Added solar panels to generate on‑site renewable energy and offset the electricity cost of the ASHP.
- Expanded Electric Vehicle (EV) charging to 28 fast and 4 rapid chargers to support fleet electrification.
Key benefits include
- Gas removed from site.
- 51% carbon reduction (~90 tonnes per year) from energy use on site.
- 19 EVs in service, 22 more ordered (Feb 2026).
These benefits have led to a reduction in cost and carbon and significant improvements in the heating and cooling within the building for our teams.
Benefits to Train performance
- Improved Depots allow teams to focus on the safety and reliability of the railway
Benefits to passengers and the local community
- Improved air quality
- Demonstrates a commitment to sustainability