PROGRESS on the construction of Alstom’s £21 million rail technology centre continues as its company logo is erected at the entrance of the building. 

Alstom is on track for a summer opening of the state-of-the-art technology centre, with its associated rail academy due to open in the autumn.

The technology centre is now in its final fit out stage. 

Since construction began in October last year, the steel works, floor, roof, windows and external cladding are now complete. 

Rail tracks have also been put down with the connection to the West Coast Main Line expected to be complete by the end of May. 

Mike Hulme, managing director of Trains and Modernisation at Alstom UK, said: “Our Widnes rail technology centre and academy will create high quality manufacturing jobs and a wide range of training opportunities, bringing knock on social and economic benefits to the north west.

“It’s fantastic to see our logo finally go up at the centre."

Up to 130 jobs will be created by summer when the centre opens.

The Alstom Transport Training Academy will open in September. 

The academy will support 65 apprenticeship places in its first year, 30 of which will be filled by internal candidates, and will deliver 15,000 training days a year.

Alstom will announce plans for its official opening of the rail technology centre in the coming weeks.