The creation of a £150 million rail testing centre in Powys has taken another step forward with the submission of plans to Powys County Council. The Welsh Government’s new ‘Global Centre of Rail Excellence’ – the first of its kind in the UK – is expected to be fully operational by 2025, bringing up to 300 jobs to the area. It will be constructed at Nant Helen opencast coal mine, near Ystradgynlais, and Onllwyn coal washery and distribution centre, after Celtic Energy ends its operations at the mine later this year. Under the plans, a 6.9 kilometre high-speed testing track and 4.5km low-speed high-tonnage testing track will be built at the Nant Helen site along with a dual platform station.
The facility will be connected to the main Brecon to Neath line, with signalling upgrades also planned as part of the project. Plans for the Onllwyn site include a control centre, a research and development facility, maintenance sheds and staff overnight accommodation. The site spans the Powys/Neath Port Talbot border and identical planing applications have been submitted to both councils. A planning statement prepared by Ove Arup and Partners, on behalf of the Welsh Government, says the project will be “a catalyst for the creation of a rail technology hub in Wales”. The first phase of the project – which includes the high tonnage test track and station – could open by 2023, with work to be completed on the latter two phases by 2025.
Budget boost for major valleys rail test centre warmly welcomed A £30 million UK Government contribution to a planned rail testing complex between Neath Port Talbot and Powys has been welcomed by the local councils. The announcement of the funding award in Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget speech yesterday (March 3) was described as a major step forward for the Global Centre of Rail Excellence project by the leader of Powys County Council, Councillor Rosemarie Harris, and Neath Port Talbot Council’s leader, Councillor Rob Jones. Cllr Jones said: “Neath Port Talbot Council, the Welsh Government and Powys County Council have worked hard with partners in the private sector to drive this project forward and we warmly welcome this strong financial backing.
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