08.07.20
£14m depot facility opened in Doncaster
After work began back in 2015 to transform the site at Marshgate, on Tuesday (July 7) Network Rail opened their new £14m depot in Doncaster.
The site aims to bring highly skilled teams across the area together and to boost the economy in the town which is renowned for its railway history.
Almost 600 workers are set to be based at the multi-million-pound facility, meaning teams can work more collaboratively on projects to maintain and advance the railway.
The site is hoped to bring opportunities for future jobs at Network Rail alongside being more inclusive for everyone, with gender neutral facilities such as toilets and changing rooms, and lifts which mean the buildings are accessible for all.
Work on the main building is now complete, but the Covid-19 outbreak has forced developments to pause on the final stage of the project and landscaping work will continue as teams begin to use the facility.
Risk assessments have also been carried out to make sure workers can continue following social distancing guidelines, with some smaller buildings, which were due to be demolished, remaining to create additional space.
Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of Network Rail, said: “As an industry, we have a lot to do as we support people returning to the railway after Covid-19. But we have a fantastic history in Doncaster as one of the archetypal railway towns and we have a fantastic history in the name of Mallard.
“I genuinely believe that with the quality of the people we have here and these new facilities to support them, we have a fantastic future as well.”
Rob McIntosh, Managing Director for Network Rail’s Eastern Region, said: “It was important for us to develop this modern £14million depot in Doncaster to celebrate the strong railway history in the town.
“Doncaster is already home to the Flying Scotsman and the National College for High Speed Rail, and this state-of-the-art facility at Marshgate will enhance both the vital work that our teams are doing in the area and the future of the railway.
“It will bring workers from depots across the area together, so that they can work collaboratively to maintain and improve the railway in the region.”
Image: Network Rail