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Commercial Property

Train leasing giant Porterbrook secures long-term future of major Midlands rail depot

Porterbrook wants to develop Long Marston into a global hub for rail innovation and expertise

Derby firm Porterbrook has signed a long-term lease on the Long Marston rail depot in Warwickshire(Image: Porterbrook)

A train leasing giant has secured the long-term future of a major rail depot in the Midlands.

Porterbrook, which is headquartered on Pride Park in Derby, has signed a 15-year lease with St Modwen, which will see the rolling stock asset management firm take over the future direction and development of Long Marston, in Warwickshire.

Since the privatisation of British Rail in the mid-1990s, rolling stock operating companies have used the former Ministry of Defence site to store out-of-lease rolling stock.

The Long Marston site covers 135 acres and consists of 12 miles of storage sidings, a two-mile test-track loop, a short length of electrified line and a number of rail served light maintenance structures.

Management of Long Marston (also known as Quinton Rail Technology Centre) will transfer to Porterbrook by mid-2021. In the meantime, it will work with Motorail to maintain the site’s current capabilities during the transition in management.

Porterbrook has been using the facilities at Long Marston to develop the hydrogen-powered HydroFLEX train

According to Porterbook, it is aiming to put the site on the global map for rail innovation and expertise.

It plans to work with the rail supply chain and academic bodies, as well as creating new partnerships with technology leaders from other sectors, so that Long Marston can play a role in helping to improve the railway for both passengers and freight customers.

Porterbrook has also confirmed that Long Marston will continue to host the annual RailLive expo, staged by RAIL magazine, when the entire rail industry comes together to showcase the latest developments in a real railway environment.