Hornsey Depot

Railway maintenance facility in Borough of Haringey, London

The area around Hornsey railway station in Hornsey (London Borough of Haringey) has been the site of several railway maintenance facilities from the mid 19th century onwards. Initial developments included two two road engine sheds, built east of the station (1866) and north of the station. In 1899 a substantial eight road engine shed was built east of the station. In c.1973 an electric multiple unit maintenance depot was constructed as part of the electrification of the Great Northern rail route. A new train wash and additional maintenance building for Class 700 units has been constructed on the site of the old Coronation sidings, together with an underframe cleaning building alongside the current shed.

A two road dead ended shed was established by the Great Northern Railway (GNR) in 1850, on the east side of the station. The shed closed in 1866 when the nearby Wood Green shed had been built, and was later demolished; making way for expansion of Hornsey station. In 1866 another two road dead ended shed was established ("Wood Green shed"), ~1 km north of the station on the west side of the track adjacent to a new water works, and west of Wood Green common. The shed closed in 1899.

In 1899 an eight track shed was constructed to the east of Hornsey station, together with a 52 feet (16 m) turntable, coal stage and water tank; the shed was connected via the Ferme Park sidings. The shed provided locos for shunting in the yard and nearby Ferme Park sidings, as well as goods workings across London to the south via Snow Hill tunnel. Hornsey locos shared suburban duties over the southern end of the GNR with locos from Kings Cross Top Shed. Under British Railways the facility received the shed code 34B. The depot's initial allocation was primarily GNR Class N1s, GNR Class N2s and GNR Class J13s. With the passing of steam, in 1961 the shed was converted for use with diesel traction, The shed's duties were passed to nearby Finsbury Park diesel depot. In 1973 the shed was converted for use as an Overhead Line (OHL) maintenance depot, as part of the works for the Great Northern electrification. the work was done as part of the Great Northern electrification; a new maintenance shed was constructed with six roads, each capable of holding an eight car train. At the same time the old loco shed was converted to use as an Overhead Line (OHL) maintenance depot, stabling an OHL repair train. The simulators became operational in 2009. The proposed development required bridge widening of the crossing at Turnpike lane, and additional embankment work and extensions. The main maintenance building was a six road , high single ended train shed, with a train wash to the west and a two storey warehouse adjacent to the east. The southern site included sidings for 11 twelve car trains and 2 eight car trains, with cleaning and controlled emission toilet facilities. In 2009, John Denham, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government blocked the development of the depot – the development had been subject to local and council objections on grounds including negative impact to a conservation area, as well as a potential negative impact to Haringey Council's "Haringey Heartlands" redevelopment project. A revised two depot plan was produced: the southern (Three Bridges) depot was expanded to a five road shed, while estimates for total maintenance roads required had been reduced from nine to eight. The northern depot was required to be only a three road depot; the depot was to be suitable for twelve car trains, with wheel lathe, cleaning, warehousing and stabling facilities. Potential sites for the northern depot were reassessed and possible options reduced to three: a main depot at Coronation Sidings Hornsey; a main depot adjacent to the existing depot at Hornsey; and a site at Chesterton, Cambridge – a depot reduced in size on the site of the original plan was chosen as the best option for Network Rail. The revised plan was submitted in 2011, with the main depot reduced approximately in height, and nearly half the area, and with estimated employment figures reduced from 270 to 120 people. Rail union RMT criticised the loss of employment opportunities due to the reduced scale of the plans, stating "Without anyone trying, Haringey has lost 150 jobs"; the revised scheme continued to produce significant opposition from local residents, with concerns including noise and light pollution during night working, as well as visual impact and traffic. The main building was a three road high single ended shed, with a two storey warehouse adjacent east, and a train washing building adjacent west; facilities at the depot were to include equipment for heavy overhaul, with overhead synchronised lift cranes on one road. The southern site, adjacent to the pre existing First Capital Connect (FCC) EMU depot, would include CET facilities, another train washing building, a underfloor cleaning building, and shunter's cabins. Wheel lathe facilities were to be shared with a pre existing installation at the FCC depot. Existing sidings adjacent to the FCC depot were to be rebuilt to provide 16 roads – four arrival and departure roads, and 12 storage roads. Civil engineering work included bridge widening across Turnpike Lane (A51) and a culverted waterway, as well as minor embankment works, and rebuilding of a footbridge at Hornsey station. The plan was given permission in late 2011. In mid 2013, VolkerFitzpatrick was awarded the approximately £150 million contract to build the two depots. The depot officially opened on 13 December 2016.

Hornsey depot is currently an Electric Multiple Unit depot for Class 387, Class 700 and Class 717 units. These units are used on the Thameslink and Great Northern Routes, Thameslink units are brought to Hornsey for maintenance tasks such as wheel turning, which Bedford Cauldwell depot is unable to do. Facilities include a wheel lathe, large maintenance shed with lifting facilities and a train washing plant, and extensive stabling sidings for Great Northern's commuter stock.