100 Million Pound Shipley Rail Depot in United Kingdom Approved as Part of Major Transpennine Route Upgrade, Expected to Boost Local Travel Economy with Over 90 Jobs by 2027

The Shipley Train Care Centre, a significant component of the ambitious Transpennine Route Upgrade, has received the green light from Bradford Council, marking a critical step forward in improving rail services across northern England. The £100 million facility will be constructed adjacent to Shipley railway station on the site of the former Crossley Evans scrapyard, with completion anticipated by 2027. This development is expected to bring more than 90 new jobs to the town, signaling a substantial boost to the local economy.

The Shipley Train Care Centre is a pivotal element in the ongoing Transpennine Route Upgrade, a multi-billion-pound project aimed at enhancing rail connectivity between key northern cities, including Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York. The upgrade seeks to deliver faster, more reliable services, with improved capacity and modernized infrastructure that supports the electric fleet serving the Wharfedale and Airedale lines.

Network Rail's application emphasized the long-term ambition of the rail industry to enhance depot and train care facilities, as the existing facility at Neville Hill, east Leeds, is nearing capacity. The Shipley depot is designed to address this issue by providing additional capacity and state-of-the-art facilities for the maintenance and servicing of trains.

The newly approved depot will be equipped with several advanced features to support the day-to-day operations of the Northern franchise. The development plans include:

These facilities will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring that the rail services remain efficient and reliable throughout the week. The depot’s strategic location next to Shipley railway station will enable seamless integration with existing rail services, further enhancing the overall efficiency of the network.

The construction of the Shipley Train Care Centre is expected to have a significant positive impact on the local economy. The creation of over 90 jobs will provide employment opportunities for residents, contributing to economic growth in the region. Additionally, the relocation of the Crossley Evans scrapyard, a move agreed upon to facilitate the development, underscores the collaborative efforts between the private sector and public authorities to drive regional development.

The site chosen for the depot has a rich historical significance, originally built as a goods yard alongside the railway line between Shipley and Bradford. Opened by the Leeds and Bradford Railway Company in 1846, the site has long been associated with the region’s industrial and transportation history. The transformation of this site into a modern rail depot is a nod to its historical roots while positioning it for future relevance.