The Gresley Institute: Doncaster Rail Training Revamp & STEM Focus

“`html

Introduction

Network Rail reopened Doncaster’s railway training center, now named The Gresley Institute, on October 6, providing state-of-the-art facilities for STEM-focused learning. The renaming followed a public vote in partnership with City of Doncaster Council, with the winning name receiving 57 percent of the vote.

Background and Naming

Network Rail announced that the new railway training center in Doncaster would be named The Gresley Institute after a public vote in collaboration with City of Doncaster Council. The public vote received over 3,500 responses. The winning name, The Gresley Institute, received 57 percent of the vote.

Facility Details

The three-story building, located on Carolina Way near Lakeside, previously housed the National College for High Speed Rail. The facility has been transformed into a modern center for operational training, education, and development. The first training courses began on October 6, and the center is designed to train up to 1,000 rail industry colleagues annually. The Gresley Institute includes 21 classrooms across two floors, equipped with signaling simulators, including traditional lever-pull models and modern systems with visual display units.

Training and Partnerships

The center focuses on STEM learning and supports training for Network Rail and the wider rail industry. The Gresley Institute honors Sir Nigel Gresley, the chief mechanical engineer behind the Mallard and Flying Scotsman locomotives at Doncaster Works. The project involved a partnership with City of Doncaster Council and the wider rail industry.

Ceremony and Results

The winning name was revealed at a ceremony on October 31, attended by rail industry and South Yorkshire dignitaries. The voting results were: The Gresley Institute (57 percent), Flying Scotsman House (24 percent), Duddington & Bray House (12 percent), and The Corridor (7 percent).

Conclusion

The Gresley Institute, a revitalized training center in Doncaster, is set to train up to 1,000 rail industry professionals annually. The facility, which has strong links to existing educational provision and a focus on STEM learning, officially opened on October 6, following a public vote that determined its name.

Last June 2025, we published an article about Renfe’s Aranjuez maintenance hub. Click here to read – Future of Rail: Renfe’s Railway Technology Hub, Aranjuez: Essential Guide

Network Rail

Network Rail reopened Doncaster’s railway training centre as The Gresley Institute, providing state-of-the-art facilities and STEM-focused learning for future rail industry professionals.

City of Doncaster Council

City of Doncaster Council partnered with Network Rail for a public vote to determine the name of the new railway training center. The new training center will support training for Network Rail and the wider rail industry.

“`