04.11.15
Network Rail and SWT open Basingstoke training centre
A new campus that extends the existing alliance between South West Trains (SWT) and Network Rail has opened its doors for training and developing frontline staff this week.
The Basingstoke Campus, the first of its kind in the country, will provide railway training and development to help engineers, signallers, maintenance staff and drivers from both organisations to continue to collaborate.
It features 50m indoor and 120m outdoor track layouts, train driving simulators and educational space for engineers, signallers, maintenance staff and drivers.
Speaking at its opening, Network Rail’s managing director for Wessex Route, John Hansall, said: “Our investment in the Basingstoke Campus provides world-class 21st century training facilities, enabling us to modernise and upskill our people so they can deliver a safer, more efficient railway for passengers as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan.
“The centre will also help us as we evolve our alliance with SWT, with all our staff developing side by side.”
Tim Shoveller, SWT’s managing director, added: “Highly trained, motivated and rewarded staff are an important part of this alliance and the Basingstoke Campus will be at the centre of this for years to come.”
The two figureheads were joined by local stakeholders and partners involved in the campus during its formal opening, including BAM Construction and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
The campus, which has been under construction for the last 18 months, will also house the Route Operations and Training Centre for the network, responsible for operating all signalling and infrastructure.
It will have the capacity to train 220 people per day within its 5,000sq m training space.
A joint operational control centre will continue to operate at London Waterloo, where Network Rail and SWT already work together to manage over 1,600 train services per day.
In June, SWT and Network Rail decided to unpick elements of their 'deep alliance', with Network Rail taking back infrastructure control.