Work is well underway for the new Global Centre of Rail Excellence in south Wales. The site of the £250 million centre, which was funded by the Welsh and UK Government, was approved by members of Neath Port Talbot and Powys County Council last year.
It will see the creation of a 550 hectare site that features electrified testing tracks, as well as space for research, development and education facilities, based on the former Nant Helen opencast site and Onllwyn Washery in Neath Port Talbot and Powys.
Now expected to be fully operational by 2025, the centre will run 24 hours daily, testing new railway vehicles such as high-speed trains and hydrogen-powered rolling stock, with a 4.5 kilometre looped track and 6.9 kilometre outer looped track at the south-east of the site.
