Alstom has received planning permission from Halton Borough Council to obtain land for construction of a new training facility in the North-West of England.
Called North West Transport Training Academy, the facility will be built at a cost of around €25m. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year, with plans to open the facility next year.
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Alstom Europe’s senior vice-president Andreas Knitter said: "This new centre is part of our global strategy to grow our service activities by localising our operations close to our customers. It allows us to react much more quickly to growth in local markets.
"The UK is one of the most exciting places in the world for train companies like Alstom to do business, so it’s important that we run the most efficient operation possible through modern facilities with the latest technology."
Upon completion, the facility will serve as a centre for research and development and provide training in engineering, manufacturing, project management, and other vital transport sector skills.
The centre will allow existing workforce to learn new skills, besides supporting apprentices and new graduates.
Works for the maintenance and modernisation of trains will also be performed at the facility.
The site offers access to the West Coast Main Line, as well as Liverpool, Manchester, Chester and Preston. It will also link ports, railheads, motorways, and airports across the North West region, thus allowing hassle-free movement of trains and train parts to the facility.
Image: An illustration of Alstom’s North West Transport Training Academy. Photo: courtesy of ALSTOM.
