North Pole intercity express depot
VolkerFitzpatrick was appointed to undertake the reconfiguration and refurbishment of the North Pole train servicing and maintenance depot in Old Oak Common. This project is a key element of the Intercity Express Programme to provide a new fleet of Hitachi-made Class 800/801 trains with associated depot facilities.
The London North Pole depot is one of three depots selected by Hitachi to house its new fleet of long-distance intercity express trains that will operate on the Great Western Mainline (GWML). The depot had been dormant since 2005 and required significant re-configuration and refurbishment to meet Hitachi’s needs, including creating two new connections to the GWML.
VolkerFitzpatrick was appointed as principal contractor to deliver the key facilities needed. These included the main servicing shed, a 400m long, six track shed for light maintenance and cleaning and a repair shed approximately 200m long with four tracks, to carry out major repairs. We also delivered a dedicated wheel lathe building to re-profile wheels and an additional bogie shed that will primarily be used for single bogie changes.
A range of specialist cleaning and servicing equipment was also installed, including a train washing machine, toilet emptying facilities and water replenishment equipment.
The works on this 3km long site spanned three local councils and interfaced with four different Network Rail routes.
“One of the key features of the work has been the sheer logistics of working on such a long site with limited access. At its peak, a workforce of 400 was mobilised on site, working on as many as twenty different work fronts!”
David Everton Client representative
