Expanding rail freight company to build £3 million operations hub in Peterborough

GB Railfreight has secured the green light to construct a three storey centre at its site in Maskew Avenue.

The building will house a control room, three classrooms, board room and staff welfare facilities.

The purpose built premises for GB Railfreight, which employs 850 staff and is the third largest rail freight operator in the UK, will replace an existing temporary office building and are designed to met the growing demand for rail freight.

The company has also announced that construction company Lindum, based in Newark Road, Peterborough, has been chosen to build the new centre.

Construction is expected to be completed by November this year and comes as work is already underway on a major project to ease the flow of rail freight through Peterborough with a multi-million pound 'dive under' near Werrington.

John Smith, managing director of the £200 million plus turnover GB Railfreight said: “The plans for our new Peterborough office have been a long time in the making and following planning permission being granted

at the end of last year, we are eager to get shovels in the ground so that we can provide the best possible facilities for our colleagues.

“Our decision to award Lindum with the construction contract was an easy one to make. Their reputation and track record sets them apart.”

Dean Duthie, Head of Major Projects said: “This is a fantastic investment for us, bringing together a variety of teams under one roof.

"The training school will support our state-of-the-art class 66 simulators, whilst our control tower overlooks East Coast mainline bringing us closer to frontline operations.

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead on such scheme.”

Lindum Project manager Steve Angus said: “It is great to see a market-leading company like GBRf reaffirming its commitment to Peterborough in this way and we are delighted to be involved in the project.

“This particular site is brown field land and was previously owned by Network Rail.

"It is positive to see it being regenerated in this way.

"The land is close to the city centre and, with the planned access road, car parking spaces and 40 bike spaces, it will prove to be a much-improved home for GBRf.”