A new training centre in Birmingham will help prepare emergency services for major incidents on the railway across the country.
The Birmingham Rail Resilience Hub in Aston has been created by Network Rail and features tracks, trains, level crossings and other equipment designed to help teams understand and manage potential challenges they may face.
The purpose-built facility will be used to prepare fire, ambulance, police and railway crews for potential incidents.
Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “Every day, we work round-the-clock to keep the railway running safely for passengers and freight across Britain.
“But we must be prepared for all eventualities – and this facility puts the West Midlands at the forefront of training, readiness for day-to-day disruption and dealing with major incidents.
“This hub creates a safe, realistic environment which allows the railway, emergency services and industry partners to learn and work together so we are ready to deal with situations in real life.
“We hope the scenarios which will be tested here never happen, but training and learning in this way will help everyone be prepared and ready.”
The official opening saw the hub kitted out with a scenario where a vehicle was struck by a train on a level crossing.
Rebecca Hodgkins, operations station commander at West Midlands Fire Service, said: “It’s been fantastic to collaborate with Network Rail and test our response to rail incidents alongside our other amazing blue light partners at this new training facility in Aston.
“It is a brilliant step forward in strengthening how we work together to ensure a safe, assertive and effective response to rail incidents.”