Pacer makes tracks to Bradford primary school

A retired Pacer train carriage – which has served northern communities for more than three decades – has found a new home at Fagley Primary School, Bradford. Donated by owner Porterbrook, the carriage will be transformed by the school into a science lab for students, to promote STEM learning.

Fagley Primary School won the Pacer carriage in the Department for Transport (DfT) sponsored ‘Transform a Pacer’ competition. Fagley were selected for their creativity and their potential to engage with and serve the local community. The 17-metre-long, 19-tonne vehicle will be delivered to the school on a low-loader truck and plinthed on railway track donated by Network Rail.

Fagley Primary School is the first of three winners of the DfT Transform a Pacer competition to receive their carriage. The other winners are Airedale NHS Trust and Platform 1 – a Huddersfield mental health charity. They will receive their carriages in coming months.

Fagley School Headteacher, Chris Parfitt said: “The staff and pupils of Fagley are incredibly excited about the delivery of the carriage, and the opportunities it will afford us to promote STEM learning.

“We are grateful to both the Department for Transport and Porterbrook, for allowing us to repurpose this train carriage to extend its life and bring joy to our students. It will make a real difference to the school and the local community.”

Porterbrook Chief Executive Mary Grant said: “Our Pacer trains have connected communities across Yorkshire over many years. Now that they have left frontline passenger service, I am proud that one of these vehicles will have a new lease of life supporting the education of young people.

“As good corporate citizens of Britain’s railway we are committed to whole life asset management, and repurposing retired rolling stock is just one way that Porterbrook can help make Britain’s railway more sustainable. We hope the teachers and children at Fagley Primary enjoy their new Pacer classroom.”

Built in Derby in 1986, the carriage has covered 3,227,769 miles in passenger service.

Photo credit: Porterbrook

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