From steam to green, SGP reaches milestone on the £66 million Bletchley rail depot upgrade for latest electric fleet

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) is celebrating reaching a significant milestone on the £66million rail depot shed extension and refurbishment at Bletchley.

With West Midlands Trains’ (WMT) procurement of the flagship Class 730 Aventra electric fleet, the existing train maintenance depot (TMD) at Bletchley, opened for steam trains in the reign of Queen Victoria, required extensive alteration to become the principal maintenance base for the new units. SGP worked closely with lead designers BWB Consulting, and contractors Taylor Woodrow providing architectural services to extend the existing maintenance shed to 6,175m2, create new electrified and non-electrified sidings with servicing and cleaning facilities, refurbish existing offices, add storage and welfare facilities, and upgrade the car park layout to enable more efficient access.

Explains Matt Beaumont, Associate at SGP: “The extension of the maintenance shed and associated works is due for completion and the office space is due to handover in Spring 2025. The shed was extended by 45 metres and including a new electrified railroad to accommodate the maintenance and cleaning of the longer 5-car fleet. The design included a complex layout with clearances for the overhead line equipment, heavy equipment, cranes and a gantry to allow safe access to the roof. There were health and safety requirements when dealing with high voltage electricity which required close collaboration with the design team and Navitas engineering, the earthing and bonding specialists.”

With the existing workforce moved to temporary accommodation, SGP’s undertook the refurbishment of the 1950s office block accommodation to provide upgraded facilities, keeping the massing and elevations, but completely reconfiguring the internal space. New doors, windows and a roof brought the building up to date with current regulations, and internal floor to ceiling heights provided a challenge to the mechanical and electrical service installations. SGP’s use of BIM and clash detection significantly streamlined the resolution of these obstacles.

Concludes Sue Eyre, Studio Director at SGP: “This has been a very demanding project, dealing with a contaminated site, existing constraints and delivering on some very specialist requirements. We worked with exacting design standards and delivery procedures, verified by the necessary Network Rail protocols, which added time and complexity to the scheme. Being part of a large team, and with an accelerated programme of works, called for clear communications and good working relationships, and SGP was able to work positively and pro-actively with all stakeholders.”

Bletchley depot is currently operated by West Midlands Trains and the new fleet will be maintained by Alstom who will perform all routine and some heavy maintenance. The new fleet is part of WMT’s ambitious initiative to set new standards in rail infrastructure and sustainability, paving the way for a greener future. As part of this initiative a new solar farm at Bletchley will promote green energy solutions by producing 170 kW of power, energizing 11 EV charging points.