NETWORK Rail is investing £15m into a new maintenance depot for Virgin's flagship Pendolino trains in Liverpool.

Work has already started on building the massive new shed on redundant sidings at the existing Alstom depot in Edge Hill.

Terry Sherliker, Alstom Traincare centre manager for Liverpool and Manchester said more jobs were likely to be created thanks to the deal.

The news came on the same day Virgin named one of its Pendolino trains Tate Liverpool to celebrate the gallery’s 20th anniversary.

Mr Sherliker said: “There are currently 23 maintenance staff at Edge Hill; the ramping up of services will ensure continuing employment and the new scope of facilities will enable the depot to take on new work and potentially grow the workforce.

“We have been preparing for the Virgin High Frequency timetable for almost two years, improving our processes and training our people in order to be ready for the opening up of the seven day railway, of which Edge Hill is an important part.”

The move is intended to help Virgin meet their promise to introduce more frequent and longer train services on the west coast main line.