Special report by Colin J. Marsden

The senior railway press were taken for an exclusive behind the scenes visit to South West Trains Bournemouth Traincare facility on 25 February 2008.

Long gone are the days of the sizeable depot complex, located on the outskirts of Bournemouth at Bournemouth West, maintaining REP and TC push pull sets and 1963 4VEP stock used on the 1960s Bournemouth electrification, these were progressively phased out over 20 years from the 1980s, firstly replaced by Class 442 ‘Wessex Electrics’ which became the mainstay of allocated traction to the depot until the more recent introduction of Class 444 and 450 ‘Desiro’ stock, now working on the vast majority of SWT outer suburban services.

This stock, is of course maintained under a life contract by builder Siemens at purpose-built facilities at Northam near Southampton, technically leaving Bournemouth with no work and the prospect of closure high on the list. However, this is far from the case, and today the depot employs a workforce of over 80 and is involved in some major engineering operations. In addition, it is responsible for maintenance of the two ‘Heritage’ Class 421 CIG sets used on the Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier branch, as well as looking after the two remaining SWT Class 73s, Nos. 73109 and 73235. Although many enthusiasts have been concerned that these will both soon be withdrawn, we were assured by the depot manager that the two locos see regular use within the depot and the current range of overhaul contracts could not be undertaken without them.

The vast majority of the Class 444 and 450 Desiro sets were commissioned at Bournemouth depot and today the site is still very much associated with the fleet. It deals with any major issues, such as collision damage (in terms of train splitting and vehicle storage while cars are sent away for repair, (usually to Brush Barclay of Kilmarnock). Presently the modification of 28 sets to High Capacity (HC) 450/5s is ongoing at the depot, with a small team of high quality engineers from Siemens in Germany undertaking the quite considerable internal changes under the watchful eye of Desiro Project Manager Paul Edwards, or ‘Dr Desiro’, Paul has been associated with the fleet from design and has an intermit understanding of their design and operation and an obvious passion to see the fleet operate well.

The modification from 450/0 to 450/5 takes around 21 days from removal from service to re-commissioning, with the Siemens engineers able to achieve a turn-round of around 11 days. In all vehicles some seats by doors are removed, litter bins replaced and new grab poles fitted, all items come a ready to install kits from Germany and arrive at Bournemouth on a just in time basis. The most significant work is in the original Trailer Composite, where the central first class section is gutted, the floor modified to take different seat supports (which involves cutting a six foot long by foot wide hole in the floor), new carpets laid and new seats installed. Structural work also includes removal of the dividing doors from the original first class compartment and patch repairs to carpets, especially in the vestibule area. The carpet repairs are done to such a high-quality that even on your hands and knees you will have a job to see the repair.

While sets are receiving the HC modification, any scratched saloon or door glass is replaced and a new anti-scratch surface applied. Other upgrade work includes re-coating the toilet compartments with anti-graffiti paint.

As of 25 February sets Nos. 450548/553/554/555/566/567/570 were complete or under modification. The entire project is on target for completion in May.

A new project recently awarded to Bournemouth depot in the first class upgrade and toilet enhancements to the SWTs fleet of 30 Class 458 ‘Juniper’ units. For a long time it has been the desire of SWT to improve the first class environment of these sets which operate on the Waterloo to Reading and Guildford to Waterloo via Ascot lines. The first class area, located in the driving cars directly behind the cab was originally fitted with small tables and no power supply for laptop or telephone re-charging. The wall décor was not of sufficient quality to meet SWTs aspirations and a refurbishment has now been authorised. The work will see new seats, larger tables and a full power supply installed. New light décor will be installed together with above seat luggage racks and new carpets.

The work is being carried out alongside a scheduled C6 overhaul, which sees the running gear overhauled by Wolverton Works. The disabled access toilet is also totally refurbished with a new design following customer feedback, but no other interior work is scheduled at this time.

Other rolling stock heavy maintenance which keeps Bournemouth depot ticking is the ongoing C6 overhauls to Class 159s and 455s, this usually sees one set at a time visit the depot, the jacking or lift road inside the main shed is used for this work.

The Siemens Class 450 upgrade work is performed on two roads of the main shed, which could accommodate 24 vehicles at capacity. The Class 458 upgrade work is performed in the same shed.

Bournemouth depot has a long tradition of high-quality workmanship, turning out a first class product, this looks set to continue into the modern railway.