Hitachi Rail Europe (HRE) (www.hitachirail-eu.com) is to create 150 jobs at a new £80 million depot in Stoke Gifford.

The company is currently hiring at the recently built depot (near Bristol Parkway station), which will house a new fleet of InterCity Express Trains due to start running on the Great Western main line later this year. HRE has a contract to maintain trains at Stoke Gifford for the next 27 years.

The day-to-day tasks will include testing engines, changing wheel sets and running thorough inspections of the trains.

Gary Martin, Stoke Gifford depot manager, said: “Our newly built facility is a clean and modern environment that will break all the traditional stereotypes of a train depot.

“To house 21st-century trains, HRE has designed a truly forward-looking facility offering exciting opportunities for local people.

“As well as building new trains and depots, we are investing in a new generation of rail workers. We want the widest range of talents and skills, as we gear up towards the new trains coming into service later this year.”

Mr Martin added that HRE is aiming to make the site a long-term centre of excellence and is forging links with local schools and colleges. Four new apprentices will be taken on ever year, once the site is fully operational.