Prime Highlights:
- The Robinson Centre has opened to train apprentice engineers and host programmes for local schools.
- The centre will preserve traditional engineering skills and inspire young people to continue the railway’s heritage.
Key Facts:
- The project cost £780,000, with £280,000 funded by Loughborough Town Deal from the government’s Towns Fund.
- The centre is located at the railway’s locomotive repair works in Loughborough and includes the refurbished locomotive shed for restoring historic steam trains.
Background:
A new education centre aimed at training apprentice engineers has officially opened at the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire.
Named the Robinson Centre, the facility will be used to teach apprentices and host engagement programmes for local schools, combining practical training with a celebration of railway heritage. The centre is located at the railway’s locomotive repair works at the north end of Loughborough station.
The project, which also included the refurbishment of the existing locomotive shed where historic steam trains are restored and maintained, had a total cost of £780,000. Funding support came from Loughborough Town Deal, which contributed £280,000 from the government’s Towns Fund.
Martin Traynor, chair of Loughborough Town Deal, said the centre is a modern facility designed to train future engineers while celebrating the railway’s history. He added that supporting the project will ensure the work continues for years to come.
Malcolm Holmes, general manager at the Great Central Railway, said the funding is crucial for the volunteer-run organisation. He said the centre will help keep engineering skills alive, safeguard the railway for the future, and encourage young people to carry on its heritage.
The centre is an important investment in education, training, and preserving railway history for the years ahead.
