VolkerRail Opens Doors to students

Open Doors is an annual event delivered by Build UK, aimed at attracting young people and career changers to consider a career in construction.

VolkerRail is hosting events at its plant depot in Scunthorpe and bespoke training facility in Doncaster.

The VolkerRailStory joint venture is also hosting an event, and bookings for all three locations are now available on the Open Doors website.

• Scunthorpe Plant depot: To support the unique installation, maintenance and operational requirements of the UK rail industry, VolkerRail provides and operates a broad spectrum of specialist rail plant and services, including On Track Maintenance (OTM) plain line and S&C tampers, lightweight tampers, ballast regulators, Kirow rail mounted cranes, Road Rail Vehicles (RRV’s) excavator and crane lifting machines.
• On-site training facility: VolkerRail built a bespoke OLE training centre to cater for existing and future overhead line system equipment. The facility has two training spans, a signalling and points heating installation on ballasted track, and supporting signalling, mechanical and electrical training, to provide trainees with both technical and practical experience, prior to undertaking work on the lineside.
• VolkerRailStory joint venture: The joint venture is currently undertaking the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade, to remove several bottlenecks between Manchester and Sheffield to allow passenger trains to overtake slower freight trains along the line. Once complete, this project will deliver real benefits for passengers in the North of England, with improved train reliability and an upgraded network to help meet future demands.

Commenting, Caroline Lee, social value advisor, said: “We are delighted to be involved in Open Doors once again, and particularly excited to open our facilities to local students, so they can learn more about a career in rail.”

Suzannah Nichol, Build UK chief executive, said: “Many young people don’t know what they want to do when they leave school, so we have a fantastic opportunity to capture their imagination and show them just what they can achieve – whether they are considering college, a traineeship, an apprenticeship, or university.

“Open Doors also encourages career changers and members of the public to experience a “live” construction project in their local community. We all know the impact this can have and the powerful first impression it can make.”

To find out more about Open Doors 2023 and book a visit to a site, please visit www.opendoors.construction.co.uk