Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre has been bought by Porterbrook.

THE site housing Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre has been snapped-up by rolling stock financier and asset management firm Porterbrook.

The 135-acre site includes a 3.5km test track loop, storage for carriages and trucks and a training centre.

Porterbrook has been operating from there since June 2021, and has ploughed in more than £13m to upgrade the centre.

Changes have included tarmacking roads to improve access, upgrading lighting and installing a new security system.

Old storage buildings have been replaced with more modern ones carefully designed to maintain the heritage feel of the former Royal Engineers’ WWII supply depot.

The new deal means Porterbrook, which already had a management leasehold agreement in place with owners St Modwen Industrial Logistics, now owns the freehold of the site.

Mary Grant, chief executive of Porterbrook, said: “This deal provides absolute clarity for our business, our shareholders and the wider rail industry over the long-term future of Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre.

“It gives us the certainty to move forwards with our plans and invest further to deliver an exceptional facility for testing, training, maintenance and storage for the railway.”