Shipley: Plans for new £100m train depot unveiled

The Shipley TrainCare Centre will form part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade

The government has unveiled plans to build a £100m maintenance depot for the north of England's train network in West Yorkshire.

The Shipley TrainCare Centre will form part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

The project will create 92 permanent skilled jobs "in the longer term", according to Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchliffe.

The government said construction was set to begin this year and is expected to be completed in 2027.

Ms Hinchcliffe said the depot, located near Shipley's railway station, would help increase service reliability for passengers, as well as employment opportunities locally.

She added: "It's great to hear that local jobs will be created to facilitate this project in the immediate term, as well as 92 permanent skilled posts being created in the longer term."

A government spokesperson said the project was "set to hire 80% of its workforce from within a 40-mile radius of the route."

The project is expected to be completed by "mid-2027"

Managing director of the Transpennine Route Upgrade Neil Holm said: "This brand new depot will support rail services while we carry out essential improvements and will also leave long-lasting legacy benefits for the town going forward."

Rail Minister Huw Merriman visited Shipley on Thursday to unveil the plans.

He said they "support the region's huge potential for growth".

Strategic development director for Northern Rob Warnes said the depot "will bring a wealth of highly-skilled jobs into the region, as well as providing resilience for our network across the North".

"It will play a key part in helping us to deliver our plans for the Transpennine Route Upgrade and beyond," he added.