The Rt. Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Minister of State for Transport visited National Express East Anglia’s training academy on 10 March to officially open the company’s new £1m train driving simulator.

NXEA employs 800 train drivers and this latest simulator - built by Krauss Maffel Wegmann (KMW) - increases to three the driving simulators based at the training academy, which are integral to the successful training and familiarisation package for all of the company’s train drivers who operate train services on routes from London Liverpool Street and throughout the East Anglia region.

This latest simulator will assist in the training and development of the 300 NXEA train drivers who currently operate train services on the West Anglia route to destinations such as Bishop’s Stortford, Cambridge, Harlow Town and Stansted Airport where NXEA are introducing new trains later in the Spring.

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said: “The railways have seen unprecedented growth in recent years and we want this to continue. Training the next generation of train drivers is important if we’re to continue to deliver the efficient services passengers need. This new simulator will ensure the train drivers of tomorrow are well prepared and able to carry the thousands of passengers that use the network every day to their destinations.”

Andrew Chivers, Managing Director, National Express East Anglia said: “I was delighted to welcome the Rt. Hon Theresa Villiers MP to our training academy to officially open our new train driving simulator. The academy is instrumental in the training and development of our employees and I am grateful to all of our partners who have helped with the work in developing this latest train driving simulator.”