Project partners have gathered to celebrate the topping out of the new Network Rail National Centre in Milton Keynes.

The main structure is now complete on the 400,000 sq ft, four-storey building nine months after construction started.

Built on the site of the former hockey stadium owned by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the relocation of Network Rail's main operations to Milton Keynes will see 3,000 jobs brought to the city by the time it opens in 2012.

Network Rail Chief Executive David Higgins said: "I'm very impressed and excited by what I've seen today. I'm confident the new National Centre will be a place which inspires our people and I know it will be a fabulous place to work. The National Centre is at the heart of our plans to improve the way we work so we can continue to deliver a world-class railway."


Debbie Brock, Mayor of Milton Keynes, said: "This is an important step for Network Rail and yet another example of Milton Keynes delivering the right mix of skills, location and 'can do' attitude to attract business and create jobs. The National Centre is becoming a familiar part of the landscape, and its green credentials are a perfect fit for our aspirations as a showcase low-carbon city.

"Milton Keynes Council has been working with Network Rail and partners to facilitate the move and to help place local people in jobs immediately and in the future. We're looking forward to welcoming other Network Rail employees to Milton Keynes and showing them it's a great place to live and work."

(CD)