Bristol Barton Hill TMD explained

Bristol Barton Hill TMD
Location:Barton Hill, Bristol
Coordinates:51.4533°N -2.5702°W
Grid Ref Uk:ST604728
Owner:Network Rail
Operator:Arriva TrainCare
Depotcode:BK
Type:DMU, Diesel
Opened:1840

Bristol Barton Hill TMD is a traction maintenance depot located in Barton Hill, Bristol, England. The depot is located on the Great Western Main Line to the north-east of Bristol Temple Meads station.

History

Bristol Barton Hill TMD opened 1840 as locomotive depot. From 1870 it was used as a carriage and wagon depot. In 1960, a new shed was built to service the Blue Pullman.[1]

Locomotives returned in July 1995 when the depot was taken over by Rail Express Systems (RES) after Bristol Bath Road TMD closed.[2] In 1996 it was included in the sale of RES to EWS.[3] [4] [5]

In 2001 it resumed servicing passenger stock with Virgin CrossCountry Class 220 and Class 221s being serviced overnight.[6] In 2004, stored Class 56 locomotives were reactivated at Barton Hill before being exported to France.[7]

In 2011 Barton Hill was transferred within the Arriva UK Trains group from Axiom to Arriva TrainCare.[8] [9] As such it has also performed overhaul work on trains for Arriva Rail North, Arriva Trains Wales and First Great Western (Class 158s), Chiltern Railways (Mark 3s) and Tyne & Wear Metrocars.[10] [11] [12] [13]

As at September 2022, five CrossCountry sets were serviced at Barton Hill each night; four Class 220/221s and one Class 170.[14]

Incidents

CrossCountry 221129 derailed on 24 March 2014 just outside of the depot. The train suffered minor damage and nobody was injured, but the track was heavily damaged, being pulled 6 inches sideways and sleeves being destroyed along with cables and the track needed grinding down.[15]

Notes and References

  1. On shed. Rail Express. 259. December 2017. 22.
  2. Barton Hill opens as a loco depot. The Railway Magazine. 1134. October 1995. 53.
  3. Wisconsin Central invades Great Britain, buys mail-train network. Trains Magazine. March 1996 . 16.
  4. Triple naming ceremony at Barton Hill staff open day. Rail Magazine. 414. 25 July 2001. 54.
  5. Railway Fascination - Bristol Fashion . Rail Magazine. 440. 24 July 2002. 53.
  6. Depots unveiled for Virgin's Voyager CrossCountry fleet. Rail Magazine. 413 . 11 July 2001. 13.
  7. Fertis 56 unveiled. The Railway Magazine. 1241 . September 2004. 59.
  8. Arriva takes on Axion depots. Rail Magazine. 670 . 18 May 2011. 19.
  9. Four more depots for LNWR. Today's Railways UK. 115. July 2011. 16.
  10. https://web.archive.org/web/20220823025452/https://www.arrivatc.com/portfolio/northern-trains-dmu-fleet-refurbishment-programme-2/ Northern Trains DMU Fleet Refurbishment Programme
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20220823025115/https://www.arrivatc.com/portfolio/class-158-refurbishment/ Class 158 refurbishment
  12. Rhymney and WAG coaches stored. Rail Express. 290 . July 2020. 28.
  13. https://www.arrivatc.com/bristol-barton-hill/ Bristol Barton Hill
  14. https://web.archive.org/web/20220822122707/https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:XHL/2022-09-01/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt Services calling at Bristol Barton Hill TMD on 1 September 2022
  15. Web site: Derailed Voyager 221129 at Bristol Barton Hill Depot 24th March 2014. British Railways TV. 30 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170331030546/https://www.britishrailways.tv/train-videos/2014-03/derailed-voyager-221129-at-bristol-barton-hill-depot-24th-march-2014/. 31 March 2017. dead.