Transport Secretary opens Great Western Railway’s new state-of-the-art Learning and Development Centre

Located in her home constituency of Swindon South, Heidi was given a tour of the new facility, where she observed a live training session on conflict resolution and met graduates and new recruits beginning their careers with GWR.

The new centre, which has been 18 months in development, provides modern, purpose-built spaces for technical and customer service training, designed to help colleagues deliver the highest standards of safety, performance and customer experience.

Secretary of State for Transport and MP for Swindon South, Heidi Alexander, said:

“Swindon has the railway running through its heart, so it was a great pleasure to open GWR’s new Learning and Development Centre in my constituency.

“The rail industry is a fantastic employer, and it was wonderful to meet new GWR recruits and colleagues who are completing apprenticeships and degrees and who represent the very best of the railway. It’s in very good hands for the future!”

Great Western Railway Managing Director, Mark Hopwood, said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome the Secretary of State to GWR's new Learning and Development Centre. This facility represents a significant investment in our people and our future – giving our colleagues the skills, confidence and support they need to deliver an exceptional experience for our customers every day.

“We’re proud to be creating opportunities for people to build rewarding careers in rail. With this new centre, we’re looking ahead with real optimism – continuing to make GWR a place where great people want to work, grow and help shape the railway of the future.”

The opening underscores GWR’s continued commitment to developing its workforce and attracting new talent into the rail industry, with a focus on creating long-term career opportunities and equipping colleagues with the skills needed for the future.