Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has marked the completion of the new Stadler Rail depot in Kirkdale.
The £21m re-build of the depot facilities began in 2018 and is part of the £460m being invested in the new trains.
The newly upgraded depot includes washing and heavy maintenance capabilities as well as stabling space for 30 of the new eight-car trains.
During a visit to the depot last week, the Mayor met with some of the team who were part of the depot building project.
The Kirkdale depot is now also the home of Stadler's UK headquarters. Once the new trains enter passenger service, the majority of the company's UK workforce will be based at this site.
What did the officials say?
Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, said:
“In the Liverpool City Region, we're trying to build a fair and inclusive economy where the benefits of jobs and investment are felt within our communities, rather than by shareholders – that means we're committed to using as much local talent and expertise as possible.
“The new trains will massively benefit rail users, but I'm really keen that their impact is felt across the region. This new depot will go on creating high-quality local jobs for years to come as part of a 35-year contract to maintain and upgrade the new trains.”
John Costello, safety critical supervisor at BAM Nuttall, said:
“As a local person with very specific training and expertise, it is fantastic to work on a project that uses my skills and is relatively close to where I live.
Developments like Kirkdale depot are fantastic for the city region. We should do all we can to ensure that local people are involved in them so that the benefits of local investment are shared across the board.”
Jenny Corkill, newly qualified apprentice technician at Stadler, said:
“'I was very pleased that straight after completing my apprenticeship course at Stadler, I was offered a permanent post within the business.
The training has prepared me well for a career on the railway, and I am delighted that I could immediately benefit from it by securing a decent job in the Liverpool City Region.”
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