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Birmingham and Doncaster chosen for high-speed rail college | Birmingham and Doncaster chosen for high-speed rail college |
(35 minutes later) | |
A new training college for HS2 rail engineers will be split between Doncaster and Birmingham, the government has revealed. | A new training college for HS2 rail engineers will be split between Doncaster and Birmingham, the government has revealed. |
The National College for High Speed Rail will train staff working on the HS2 link between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. | The National College for High Speed Rail will train staff working on the HS2 link between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. |
The college, due to open in 2017, will be based at Birmingham's Science Park and Doncaster's Lakeside Campus. | The college, due to open in 2017, will be based at Birmingham's Science Park and Doncaster's Lakeside Campus. |
Derby and Manchester were also shortlisted as possible sites. | Derby and Manchester were also shortlisted as possible sites. |
Birmingham, previously unveiled as the construction HQ for the project, was chosen for its "location at the heart of the high-speed rail network". | Birmingham, previously unveiled as the construction HQ for the project, was chosen for its "location at the heart of the high-speed rail network". |
Doncaster was selected for its "excellent links to established rail industry businesses", the government said. | Doncaster was selected for its "excellent links to established rail industry businesses", the government said. |
London Crossrail boss Terry Morgan will chair the college's governing board alongside representatives from Birmingham and Doncaster. | London Crossrail boss Terry Morgan will chair the college's governing board alongside representatives from Birmingham and Doncaster. |
Prime Minister David Cameron said the HS2 project would create about 2,000 apprenticeships. | Prime Minister David Cameron said the HS2 project would create about 2,000 apprenticeships. |
"The opening of this national college will also ensure that we have a pool of locally-trained workers with the right skills to draw upon for future projects," he added. | "The opening of this national college will also ensure that we have a pool of locally-trained workers with the right skills to draw upon for future projects," he added. |
Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said she hoped the college would create a "new generation of engineering and manufacturing" in the town. | Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said she hoped the college would create a "new generation of engineering and manufacturing" in the town. |
"It will offer local people, including our school leavers, the chance to gain high-level engineering skills leading to well-paid jobs that are in high demand," she said. | "It will offer local people, including our school leavers, the chance to gain high-level engineering skills leading to well-paid jobs that are in high demand," she said. |
Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore welcomed the announcement and said the fact the college's governing board would be based in the city was "hugely encouraging". | Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore welcomed the announcement and said the fact the college's governing board would be based in the city was "hugely encouraging". |
"This gives the city a real advantage and will be a boost to Birmingham's economy and that of the wider region," he said. | "This gives the city a real advantage and will be a boost to Birmingham's economy and that of the wider region," he said. |
Shadow universities minister Liam Byrne said the college announcement was a "big step forward" for Birmingham, but HS2 remained a "mixed blessing" for the city. | |
He re-stated his objections to a planned high-speed maintenance depot on the former LDV factory site in Washwood Heath. | |
The land was previously earmarked for an industrial development that could support up to 7,000 jobs. The proposed depot would create about 650 roles, according to government plans. | |
"Now we need to complete the picture and press on to relocate the job-killing marshalling yard planned for Washwood Heath," he said. | |
The decision on the new colleges was announced at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. | |
Earlier this week anti-HS2 campaigners erected a white elephant in protest outside the conference venue. | Earlier this week anti-HS2 campaigners erected a white elephant in protest outside the conference venue. |
Chancellor George Osborne re-stated the party's determination to press ahead with the rail link, despite objections about the project's cost and fears its construction will damage countryside. | Chancellor George Osborne re-stated the party's determination to press ahead with the rail link, despite objections about the project's cost and fears its construction will damage countryside. |