Construction of Northern’s new TrainCare Centre in Shipley has reached a significant milestone, with the first structural steelwork installed at the site as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
The purpose-built maintenance facility, which has already secured more than £160 million in funding, will become the permanent home of Northern’s electric train fleet in West Yorkshire.
Developed on a former brownfield site, the depot will play an important role in maintaining rail services during future phases of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, particularly when major infrastructure work takes place around the existing Neville Hill TrainCare Centre in Leeds.
The project is also expected to create up to 100 skilled jobs in Shipley, providing a long-term economic benefit beyond the completion of TRU.
New depot critical to maintaining services during TRU works
The Shipley TrainCare Centre is a key enabling project within the wider Transpennine Route Upgrade programme.
As major railway improvements progress across the region, maintaining sufficient train maintenance and servicing capacity will be essential to keeping passenger services operating.
Future work in and around Neville Hill TrainCare Centre will create operational challenges for Northern, making alternative facilities necessary to support its electric fleet.
The new Shipley depot will provide that capability, helping ensure trains can continue operating on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines while the planned works take place.
Unlike temporary facilities developed solely to support construction activity, Shipley will remain an operational railway asset after the upgrade programme concludes.
This will provide Northern with additional long-term maintenance capability and support the resilience of its operations across West Yorkshire.
Euan Smith, Director of Fleet at Northern, said: “The Shipley TrainCare Centre will play a key role in allowing Northern to continue to deliver services for customers across the region while upgrades will be carried out at Neville Hill.
“This will enable us to be a resilient operator and meet the demands of our customers and our network, all while futureproofing the railway for further investment and projects.”
Structural steelwork signals progress on £160m development
The installation of the first steelwork marks an important stage in the transformation of the former brownfield site into a modern railway maintenance facility.
On Friday 23 October, Shipley MP Anna Dixon visited the development alongside Councillor Eleanor Thomson and Michael Sasse, Rail Policy Manager at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The visit provided an opportunity to inspect construction progress and hear updates from TRU and Northern representatives about the facility’s development and expected benefits.
The steelwork will form the framework of the new TrainCare Centre, with further construction activity required before the depot becomes operational.
Adam Sellers, TRU Senior Sponsor, said: “Great progress is being made our Shipley site, so we were delighted to have our senior stakeholders see this firsthand, and to provide a detailed update on the benefits this site will bring to not just railway resilience in West Yorkshire, but the local economy.
“TRU is committed to supporting local communities and providing local jobs, and this new depot will ensure we leave a positive lasting legacy in the town.”
The project demonstrates the importance of supporting infrastructure within major railway upgrade programmes.
While the Transpennine Route Upgrade is primarily associated with electrification, track improvements and increased capacity, maintenance facilities are equally important to enabling construction work and supporting reliable train operations.
Up to 100 permanent skilled jobs for Shipley
Alongside its operational role, the TrainCare Centre is expected to deliver lasting employment benefits for the local community.
Up to 100 skilled jobs will be created at the facility, with the positions expected to remain after the wider Transpennine Route Upgrade programme has concluded.
The development is intended to provide opportunities for local people to establish careers in railway engineering, maintenance and associated operational activities.
Anna Dixon MP welcomed the progress, highlighting the importance of the investment to Shipley’s economy.
“Bringing the skilled, high-quality jobs of the future to the Shipley constituency has always been one of my top priorities as MP, and having this facility here will give local people the chance to build long-term careers right on our doorstep.
“And importantly, the benefits aren’t just confined within the depot gates. More people in well-paid jobs in the heart of Shipley will mean more spending in our shops, cafés, and businesses, further helping in the revitalisation of the town centre.”
The reuse of a former brownfield site also aligns the railway investment with wider regeneration ambitions, bringing a previously developed area back into productive use.
Supporting the wider Transpennine Route Upgrade
The Shipley development forms part of the infrastructure investment required to deliver the wider TRU programme while maintaining operational continuity.
The ability to relocate or redistribute maintenance activity is particularly important when existing depots are affected by major engineering works.
By providing a permanent facility for Northern’s electric fleet, Shipley will help reduce the operational constraints associated with future work at Neville Hill.
For the railway supply chain, the project also highlights the range of specialist infrastructure required to support major route upgrades, extending beyond track and electrification to include depots, servicing facilities and operational support assets.
The construction programme represents a substantial investment in West Yorkshire’s railway infrastructure, with the new facility intended to support both immediate TRU delivery requirements and Northern’s longer-term fleet operations.
Although a completion date has not been confirmed in the latest update, the installation of the first structural steelwork demonstrates tangible progress towards bringing the depot into service.
Once operational, the Shipley TrainCare Centre will provide a permanent maintenance base for Northern’s electric trains, support continuity of services during major railway works and establish a lasting employment presence in the town.
The milestone represents another step in preparing West Yorkshire’s railway infrastructure for the next phases of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.
