A site to the east of Leeds, not the previously announced village of Crofton, will be where HS2’s eastern leg rolling stock depot will be built, the government has revealed.
Up to 125 jobs will be created at the Aire Valley depot, which will stable, maintain and service new high-speed trains.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling said that constructing this depot in Leeds underlines how the benefits of HS2 will drive prosperity right across the UK.
He added: “The depot will act as an economic catalyst, creating skilled jobs, boosting the local economy by unlocking regeneration opportunities and driving continued investment.
Like this story? Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with rail industry news
“This ensures Leeds will not only see immediate benefits when HS2 arrives but will see Yorkshire become a thriving hub for training the engineers that HS2 and future major projects will need.”
The announcement comes a week after HS2 outlined plans to deliver an “unprecedented green corridor” stretching alongside the railway, consisting of new wildlife habitats, native woodlands and community spaces to help integrate the line into the surrounding environment.
The scale of planned works will be largest ever undertaken by an infrastructure project in the UK, with a network of environmental projects stretching from London to the North of England.
Read more: Meet the HS2 innovators who want to introduce non-rail sector ideas
