Rail

Doncaster is THE place for rail, past, present and future

Get the fast track on investment opportunities in Doncaster’s rail sector

Take a look at the opportunities Doncaster has to offer

Opportunities in Doncaster's Rail sector
Rail

Doncaster has rail in its DNA and this has created the perfect blueprint for the sector to grow and thrive

It is no coincidence that the city that is home to the Mallard and the Flying Scotsman has become a flourishing hub for the rail sector. For over 150 years, Doncaster has been at the forefront of national and international railway engineering and operational excellence.

The combination of excellent connectivity, a well-established supply chain, first-class training facilities and a highly skilled workforce has led to over 50 rail-related companies setting up successful business here. Major rail companies located here include Network Rail, Hitachi, Unipart Rail, iPort Rail, Volker Rail and SPL/Engie plus a host of other SMEs.

Uniquely positioned to deliver high potential opportunities for companies looking to invest in the rail sector.

Doncaster is centrally located in the UK, with excellent road, rail, air, and port connections. It is situated at the heart of the motorway network; the East Coast main line runs through the city and Doncaster Sheffield Airport caters for passengers and cargo travelling to and from national and international destinations.

There is a first-class rail freight facility at the iPort - the UK’s largest bonded intermodal rail freight facility. The iPort provides direct access to the UK national rail network and direct services to all major UK ports and to Europe via the Channel Tunnel.

This connectivity has enabled a highly integrated rail component supply chain to become established in Doncaster. Opportunities generated by planned railway investments such as HS2, Crossrail and Transport for the North, plus a fresh perspective on the environmental benefits of rail transportation, have led to a boom in demand for new rolling stock, freight services, advanced manufacturing, power supply and distribution, rail infrastructure, maintenance and railway operations.

It is estimated that over £35 billion will be spent on new rail equipment and services over the next 15 years.

Now is the perfect time to invest and grow your business in Doncaster’s world-class rail cluster. There is a ready supply of land and industrial premises for rail and logistics companies wanting to locate in the Doncaster area. Top locations include Doncaster iPort, Unity Yorkshire, GatewayEast, Doncaster North and West Moor Park.

Help and support is available for rail companies setting up in Doncaster and Business Doncaster is your first point of contact. It is a partnership of the local authority and business support partners, including the Chamber of Commerce. They have a knowledgeable and experienced investment team on hand to facilitate introductions to specialist networks and help you make the most of benefits such as simplified planning processes, tax incentives, and competitive property rents.

You will also have access to a highly skilled local rail industry workforce. This talent pool is regularly replenished with graduates from Doncaster UTC, The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.

A world-class rail hub

Take a whistle-stop tour of Doncaster’s growing rail cluster and the see the benefits of getting on-board if you are a business looking to invest in the thriving rail sector

Rail in Doncaster

For more information contact Alex Dochery

Download the Doncaster Rail Sector Brochure

Last updated: 22 January 2024, 09:21