National Rail HQ For Thames Valley

30 June 2011, 05:00

For the first time we can see pictures of what Network Rail's ten million pound regional headquarters will look like when it's built in the Thames Valley.

The rail operator is working with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to buy the 6 acres of land at Basing View business park on Gresley Road.

The centre will also be used to train up to 300 staff at a time in things like maintenance, engineering design, and project management.

Heart's been told around 3, 000 people are employed on the route out of London Waterloo to Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and Dorset and it's expected a significant amount of those roles will move to Basingstoke over 10 to 15 years.

Richard O' Brien from Network Rail said;

"An important part of this is giving our people the right skills and providing the best facilities. This proposed new development will be a big step forward in achieving this. We considered a number of locations and criteria, including the quality of road and rail links, and overall we felt Basingstoke offered the best solution."

It comes as the council searches for a high profile partner to help regenerate the business park over the next decade, with office space, hotels and leisure facilities planned.