Work to start on new £8.4m Metro training centre in South Shields

Construction of the new £8.4million project for Nexus will see a bespoke facility built in the existing Metro sidings between Mile End Road and Salem Street.

It will house a range of rail infrastructure and operations training as well as provide training for apprentices, front line leadership and management development.

The creation of the three-storey training centre has been in the pipeline for the past three years, with development company GallifordTry being handed the contract in October.

Now work to clear the site, which was the town’s original railway station, before the Metro line was built in the early 1980s, has been completed, construction work will start within days.

The development is being funded through a £7million grant from the Government’s Local Growth Fund Deal through the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and a £1.4million contribution by Nexus.

It is expected to be open in the summer of 2019.

Nexus managing director Tobyn Hughes said: “I’m delighted that work is now starting on the construction of our £8.4million Learning Centre in South Shields.

“This facility will transform the quality of the training that we provide to the Nexus workforce and industry partners, ensuring we keep Metro part of everyday life for the 100,000 people who use the service every day.

“It will also be the place where our diverse workforce will go to develop themselves professionally, and to work on strategies to improve what we do and how we do it.”

The new facility will include a 70 metre stretch of dual track for Nexus to carry out rail infrastructure training, including track, track points, signalling and overhead line.

Coun Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “This is a real milestone.

“This training centre will complement the new transport interchange and will bring huge benefits to the town, including apprenticeships for our young people.

“Nexus’ decision to locate their training centre in South Shields is further evidence of the rising confidence in the town centre as a place to do business and commitment to this part of the region.”

Chris Scoffield, managing director of Galliford Try’s Rail and Aviation business: “The design and preparatory phases of the project have gone well and, with the site now cleared, we’re looking forward to making a start on construction as part of a strong project team.”

The centre will have a mocked-up Metro station complete with a full-length platform, ticket gates, PA system, CCTV and help points.