Written question WQ86482
- Asked by
- Cefin CampbellPlaid
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
Will the Minister provide an update on proposals to develop a Global Centre of Rail Excellence at Nant Helen on the Powys/Neath Port Talbot border?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Climate Change
Proposals to develop a Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) recently reached a major milestone with the formal acquisition by the company of the former Nant Helen opencast site and Onllwyn Washery from opencast mining company Celtic Energy.
A range of consultants and contractors including Hirwaun-based Walters Group, Atkins, Fifth Studio, Arcadis and Mott MacDonald are now working in an alliance to design the site and begin preparation for construction in early 2023 at the 700 hectare site.
GCRE is split in to three core phases:
• Phase 1 - The provision of sidings for rolling stock from the summer of 2023
• Phase 2 – The building of two electrified test loops, one high speed test loop 6.9Km long and a 4.5km Infrastructure test loop, together with supporting infrastructure and buildings from 2024
• Phase 3: The addition of expanded stabling, maintenance, and commissioning facilities along with research facilities, hotel, and business park in 2025 and ongoing.
The site will feature the UKs first net zero railway and become the UK’s ‘one stop shop’ for railway innovation, from research and development, through testing, verification and certification, to applied innovation on mainline passenger and freight railways.