The RailStaff Awards 2024

Surjit Bharj

Said the following about Old Oak Common Depot Closure Team:

“Old Oak Common Depot Closure Team

One of London’s largest railway depots, employing over 200 staff by Great Western Railway and providing work for an equal number of contractors, was informed by the DfT in 2015 that it had to close in order to make way for the HS2 project and changes in rolling stock.

2018, the final year before closure, has been difficult for the team at the West London depot who have gone above and beyond their normal roles in order to deal with a variety of major challenges whilst continuing run a fully operation train maintenance depot. Dealing with low colleague morale, the emotional demise of such an iconic place and at the same time trying secure their own futures and life changes has required outstanding team work and professionalism. Working with the recruitment team to help each and every colleague find a job, relocate or secure a redundancy package. Organising on-the-job taining, CV and interview workshops, the team have worked hard to make the transition as smooth as possible for all. Regular team building events help to keep up morale in these difficult circumstances.

Working closely with NR, HS2 and S & C Alliance the team has accommodated requests from contractor requirements to move in and carryout major works. At the same the team has worked hard to keep the depot safe for all as OOC is still a major cog in Great Western Railway’s routine maintenance programme and any issues would have serious repercussions across the network. Even with dwindling staffing levels incidents and accidents have been kept to a minimum whilst still servicing up to 9 trains a day.

As the depot’s footprint has reduced in size over a number of stages, the deadlines given to the team to vacate each section have always been met. There have been a fair few ongoing changes in requirements necessitating tough negotiation, a reduction in skills and flexibility as staff move on, implementing new ways of working practices and accommodation, working closely with the unions to change shift patterns, while clearing the depot and making tough tactical decisions on what to keep.

In order to meet the company’s obligation to reduce waste going to landfill, a major exercise has been implemented to recycle or sell furniture, tools and depot utilities to prevent assets being wasted. Hosting a depot open day last year raised over £50k for charity and the positivity gleaned from this has continued by raising another £10k for Centre Point and Place2Be with the proceeds from the depot closure sales.

As we enter the final phase of the depot closure trains are still being serviced with the final High Speed Train visit planned for December, the team are working hard and to a tight schedule to empty the remaining facilities and utilities and are fully committed to the depot until that very last train is serviced.“