Media centre

Wednesday 30 Nov 2005

MEDIA INVITATION: OFFICIAL OPENING OF LEEDS OPERATIONS TRAINING CENTRE

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Date:                           8 December 2005 Time:                          10.30 am Location:                    Leeds Operations Training Centre, 5th Floor, Leeds City Exchange, 11 Albion Street, Leeds, LS1 5ES Event:                         Councillor Andrew Carter, Leader of Leeds City Council officially opens the new operations training centre. Media contact:          Carolyn Watson, 01904 383180        You are invited to attend the official opening by Councillor Andrew Carter, Leader of Leeds City Council of Network Rail’s world-class new operations training centre in Leeds. The multi-million pound complex will train new and existing signallers and other operations employees, including station staff, using both teaching in classrooms and simulator technology.  Around 250 operations employees will pass through the centre each year. A similar number will also be trained at a ‘sister’ centre in Watford. Rail traffic has increased by 30% since 1996 a trend that is set to continue with more pressure to relieve road congestion by getting more people and goods off the road and onto rail.  At the same time the industry has given a commitment to reducing delays and increasing the number of on-time trains.  The role of signallers and other operations staff in the day to day running of the railway is vital. Since taking over the rail infrastructure, Network Rail has been keen to invest in its people by raising standards of training, equipment used and in achieving greater consistency across the business. By raising the bar on operations training and competency, the new centre in the heart of West Yorkshire will play a key role in improving the overall performance of the railway. Councillor Andrew Carter, Leader of Leeds City Council will unveil a plaque after which there will be a tour of the facility and the opportunity to operate the signalling simulators.