Construction has begun on a new £100m train care facility (depot) in Shipley by the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) East Alliance, supporting the modernisation of rail services across the North.
The new depot will serve as a key location for train storage, servicing, and maintenance, helping to improve overall reliability and efficiency across the network. The facility will initially be used to house and maintain Northern’s fleet of electric trains on the Airedale and Wharfedale Lines while access in and out of their Neville Hill depot in Leeds is restricted during a future phase of TRU.
Work to prepare the brownfield site started last year, with the TRU East Alliance working closely with Northern Trains to finalise the detailed specifications, as well as undertaking site clearance – demolition of the former recycling company office and stores buildings, removing contaminated soil and completing site surveys to prepare the location for construction.
Yorkshire Water has already diverted the underground sewer crossing, and a large retaining wall has also been installed along the western edge of the site, allowing the safe construction and operation of the main facility.
Adam Sellers, TRU senior sponsor, said: “Great progress has been made with enabling works at our Shipley site, and I am delighted to provide our Bradford Council colleagues with a detailed update on the benefits this site will bring to not just railway resilience in West Yorkshire, but to the local economy.
“TRU is committed to supporting local communities and providing local jobs, and this new depot will ensure we leave a positive lasting legacy in the town.”
Rob Warnes, Strategic Development Director for Northern said: “It is fantastic to see the initial work that has been done at Shipley to prepare for the delivery of the brand new Traincare Centre, which will be the future home for most of our electric train fleets in West Yorkshire.
"Not only is the delivery of this new site vital for delivering future work taking place as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, but it will also bring highly skilled jobs into the local area and provide key resilience for our network in this part of the world.”
James Ramsden quote: “The project is yet another piece of the Transpennine Route Upgrade jigsaw being professionally delivered by the Alliance. Once complete, the depot will be one of the biggest employers in the Shipley central area and its presence will vastly improve the visual impact on the approach to Shipley both by road and rail.”
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is a multi-billion-pound railway programme that will transform journeys across the North, better connecting towns and cities like Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.
Construction of the main facility building is expected to start this Autumn, followed by track and power works. When complete, the depot will initially be used to house and maintain Northern’s fleet of electric trains on the Airedale and Wharfedale Lines while access in and out of their Neville Hill depot in Leeds is restricted during a future phase of TRU in 2028.
For more information, visit: Shipley Depot - Transpennine Route Upgrade
