Stoke Gifford depot

In the early 19th century the land between Stoke Gifford and Filton was essentially rural.[4] The first railway at the location was the north-south Bristol and South Wales Union Railway (1860s); followed by the eastward London, Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway (1900s); and the Filton to Avonmouth Line (1910s). The lands at the other three corners formed by the intersection of the east-west and north-south lines were also enclosed by connecting embanked earthworks of connecting chords by the 1920s.[5][note 2]

By the second half of the 20th century the southern part of the site was being used as a rail connected spoil heap; this use continued up to the 21st century.[5] The site was involved in processing of used railway ballast, and from 1998 non-railway rubble was also processed.[6]

A small stream, Stoke Brook, as well as tributaries and other drains crossed the site; it was redirected in the latter part of the 20th century, and by the 21st century had been mostly culverted.[5][7]

In 2009 Agility Trains was named as the preferred bidder for the Intercity Express Programme train procurement.[8] After being placed on hold and put under review the decision to continue with procurement process was taken in May 2011.[9]

In mid 2011 Hitachi Rail Europe began the formal application process with South Gloucestershire Council for the construction of a rail depot at the 'Stoke Gifford Triangle'.[10][11] In September 2011 a planning application was submitted;[12][13] as specified, the depot was designed for a maximum train length of around 270 m (890 ft) (10 car, 26m carriage trains) with stabling for 17 trains.[14][note 3] The maintenance building was a two road 281.2 by 21 m (923 by 69 ft) structure including staff and office buildings, other facilities included a train washing building 43.5 by 7.6 m (143 by 25 ft), a wheel lathe building 54.7 by 12.4 m (179 by 41 ft), a two-floor accommodation building 9.9 by 3.6 m (32 by 12 ft) as well as smaller structures including pump rooms (fuel, oil, waste water), and a shunters' cabin. Other structures included electricity substations, and tank farms.[16][17] The entire site's working track was to have overhead line electrification.[18]

Rail access to the site was to be via connections in the south-east corner to the Stoke Gifford junction to Patchway junction chord of the South Wales Main Line,[note 4][note 1] and to the Avonmouth and Filton Line; a connection in the northwest corner to the Stoke Gifford/Patchway junction chord is also proposed.[19]

Significant local opposition developed to the plan, including concerns about noise pollution and light pollution during night shift working, as well as concerns about a negative effect on house prices. Stoke Gifford parish council also opposed the plans.[20][21][22][23]

South Gloucestershire Council approved the plan in February 2012.[23][24][25] Construction by VolkerFitzpatrick commenced in August 2013.[26]

In 2013 the plans were amended by application No. PT13/1744/RVC. Minor operational changes were made: the carriage wash was moved to be adjacent to the main maintenance building, and was ~15m longer than originally stated; stabling sidings was reduced to 16; positions of plant and track layout were altered, for operational reasons, also reducing the proximity of work activities to nearby residential properties; screening earthworks and access roads were also altered.[27] Due to the presence of biological lifeforms on the site the developers have proposed the rail bounded triangle of land to the south of the site as an environmental mitigation area.[28]

Control of the site was transferred from Network Rail to Hitachi in early 2013.[29] The depot was completed in March 2016 and became operational with the first visit by a Class 800 in summer 2016.[30] Regular operations commenced in October 2017 when the Class 800s entered service with Great Western Railway.[31]