Logistics /

18 May 2025

Crewe Arriva Powers Up with 45,000L AdBlue® Tank Installation

Arriva TrainCare’s depot at Crewe is a key location for rail vehicle maintenance and servicing. With the focus on reducing emissions and going green the depot has made significant investments in its fuelling infrastructure. Diesel has traditionally been the fuel of choice for many trains but with the move to greener alternatives AdBlue® is now essential for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel engines.

To support this transition and to service their trains seamlessly Arriva TrainCare’s Maintenance Depot at Crewe now have a 45,000 litre AdBlue® storage and dispensing facility. This installation shows the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and increases the efficiency and options for train servicing.

Airquick Limited, rail depot plant and compressed air engineers based in Newark designed, installed and commissioned the AdBlue® facility using a Tuffa storage solution.

We spoke to Managing Director Richard Parsons:

 

Project Overview and Objectives

What were the primary objectives for installing the 45,000 litre AdBlue storage tank?

Arriva TrainCare at Crewe provide overnight servicing for a wide range of Train Operators. New diesel-powered rolling stock invariably require AdBlue® filling alongside refuelling every night ready to return to service the following day. As an idea of the shear amount required, 45,000 litres of AdBlue® would provide around 1 months’ worth of inventory for the train depot. As such, the primary objective was to obtain the optimum storage capacity of AdBlue® to allow regular, uninterrupted servicing of the trains each night.

What specific challenges or needs did Crewe Arriva Depot have that led to this installation?

3 № Tuffa 15,000 litre self-bunded AdBlue® tanks were needed to achieve the necessary storage requirement which were located on a 10 x 5 metre concrete base constructed by Serfis Construction (Stourbridge).

The delivery and subsequent installation of the tanks required close co-ordination between all stakeholders to enable this element of the project to be completed, particularly given some challenging site delivery and infrastructure limitations”.

 

Project Details

Why did you pick these tanks specifically?

Tuffa’s 15,000 litre AdBlue® tanks were the largest tanks that could be physically delivered to this site, and three were required to meet the desired capacity. 3 № Tuffa 15,000 litres tanks were considered the more economically advantageous way to deliver the customer’s required amount of total storage volume.

Were there any unique or innovative aspects of this installation?

Modern trains such as the CAF Class 197 and Hitachi Class 805 requires special couplings, not only for delivering the AdBlue®, but also to provide a signal to shut off the dispenser when the on-board tank is full.

The system is fully automatic allowing multiple dispensers to operate at the same time with each of the three tanks fitted with two submersible pumps configured to operate in a duty/assist mode.

Each of the tanks is normally isolated from the dispenser distribution network and is automatically selected on demand based on the fluid level of each tank using a self-closing actuated valve.

 

Benefits and Outcomes

What immediate benefits has the depot experienced since the installation?

The benefits were immediately realised. Without the installation of the new facility which included the 3 № Tuffa AdBlue® tanks, the only way of fulfilling the contract for the overnight servicing of trains would have been to utilise mobile AdBlue® bowsers.

This option can work well in some low-use, low-volume environments, but the sheer volume of AdBlue® to be dispensed at Crewe meant that it would not be a viable long-term solution, as a 100-litre bowser would need constant refilling and moving back and forth to the service apron.

 

In summary the 45,000 litre AdBlue® tank at Arriva TrainCare’s Crewe Arriva Depot is a key part of the journey to greener and more sustainable train and depot operations. With the ability to service new diesel rolling stock efficiently and consistently the depot is well placed to meet its environmental targets and business as usual service delivery requirements. This project shows Arriva TrainCare’s commitment to reducing emissions and Airquick’s engineering solutions to overcome logistics challenges. By investing in this fantastic facility Arriva TrainCare at Crewe is helping to make the rail industry more sustainable.

 

Find more details on the range of tanks for AdBlue in our guide to tanks for AdBlue, or for your oil tank quotation send an online enquiry here.

why choose a tuffa tank?

total

satisfaction

96% of our customers would recommend us

ultra

strong

Our tanks are the toughest tanks on the market.

premium

quality

The quality of our tanks make them the best value for money.

buyer

guides

Find out everything you need to know about tanks with our expert guides.

buyer guides

let's talk tanks

For expert advice & cost-effective quotes contact sales on 01889 567700 or [email protected]

related case studies

accreditations

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Accreditation Logo