The steel frame of the new modern rail innovation and training centre has begun at Barrow Hill.

Next to the Barrow Hill Roundhouse, the Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle (DRIIVe) is being built.

Once complete, the centre will allow for classroom and training areas alongside specialist research and development.

Work on the site began in June, and its foundations have progressed quickly, with the next steps including external cladding beginning.

The project is being funded by the Staveley Town Deal with additional funding from Chesterfield Borough Council, the UK Shared Prosperity and the East Midlands Combined County Authority.

Additionally, following the building’s completion, it will be managed by Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society on a day-to-day basis, and any profits from the centre will be reinvested into the Roundhouse site.

Further information about DRIIVe can be found here.

“DRIIVe is a powerful example of how we’re turning ambition into action with the East Midlands Investment Zone. By investing in skills and innovation, we’re building the foundations of a smarter and greener economy while making sure that local people are at the heart of our journey. The East Midlands is stepping up as a leader in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable transport – and DRIIVe is proof of that progress in motion.”

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward