Network Rail to take over former HS2 college

Network Rail has taken over a college that was opened to train engineers to work on HS2.

The National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure in Doncaster closed in 2023 after struggling to fill places because of a slowdown in HS2 contracts being awarded. It had been open for only six years.

The purpose-built campus has remained empty since but Network Rail has announced it will develop the site into a training facility and has signed a 25-year lease.

The building is owned by Doncaster Council. More than 40 jobs were lost when the college shut and 170 students were transferred elsewhere, and the city's mayor, Ros Jones, said the takeover was "great news".

Network Rail said that the site would be used for training apprentices and engineers.

Ms Jones added: "Our city has a great heritage and legacy of rail over centuries as the birthplace of the Mallard and Flying Scotsman, and it is wonderful to see that that tradition is continuing with more rail expertise joining our already successful rail industries which call Doncaster their home.

“It is fitting that Doncaster will be the home of training facilities that boost the city as a national rail hub with advanced manufacturing and engineering at its heart."

There is a Department of Education covenant in place until 2043 that stipulates the building must be used for post-16 education, training and skills.

Jake Kelly, Network Rail’s Eastern managing director, said: “We’re delighted to have taken over the building and believe it is fitting that our new training facility will be in Doncaster as it is an historic railway city.

“It will be an industry-leading facility that will enable us to give our current and future workforce bespoke training and education that in turn will help us run a safe and reliable railway."

The high-speed rail link was originally planned to connect London with the West Midlands, Manchester, Leeds and York, but was scaled back.

The current route is set to link London Euston to the West Midlands using a newly-built, dedicated line.

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