TRAIN company TransPennine Express is to invest £7million in constructing a new train servicing depot in Scarborough.

The new depot, which is planned to open in summer 2018, will maintain the brand new trains being introduced by the company.

The facility will provide light maintenance services including fuelling for trains on the route between Scarborough and Liverpool Lime Street. Once opened, it is expected that around 15 jobs will be created to help service the trains.

Nick Sworowski, depots and infrastructure project manager for TransPennine Express, said: “This major investment will enable our brand new trains to operate from and be maintained in Scarborough.

"We considered a number of sites across the wider Yorkshire area and Scarborough provides a geographically strategic site for this essential maintenance work. This is a long-term investment in the town and we are pleased to be bringing jobs to the area."

As reported in the Gazette & Herald in August, customers will begin to see the 13 new five-carriage trains running between Scarborough and York - and on to Liverpool - from late 2018. These longer trains and upcoming timetable enhancements will mean 700,000 extra seats per year for those travelling to and from Scarborough.