 https www porterbrook co uk videos lm web mp4 both since taking over the 135 acre site in 2021 and establishing the long marston rail innovation centre weve invested in local businesses skills the community and sustainability initiatives full royal engineers depot none 1 history of the site in 1940 on the site where the rail innovation centre exists today the ministry of defence established the royal engineers supply depot to store equipment during the second world war as well as creating training facilities and workshops the royal engineers continued to use the site for storage and supply until 1999 from 1948 until 1974 the site housed polish servicemen as part of a resettlement programme and while the accommodation was closed in 1974 a chapel made for the polish community remained in use until 1999 in 2004 st modwen acquired the facility from the defence estates and much of the former engineer depot became the new community of meon vale in 2021 porterbrook acquired the rail facility occupying 135 acres of the original depot hydro flex2 1 none sustainability initiatives exciting rail innovations such as hybrid and hydrogen powered trains are being developed and tested at the rail innovation centre hydroflex the uks first hydrogen ready passenger train was developed at the site before it was presented at cop26 in glasgow to world leaders including hrh the prince of wales were also working with network rail and other local nature organisations to support their work in the midlands to protect habitats and open up wildlife corridors porterbrook primary engineer day long marston 71 1 none 1 community engagement were committed to supporting the community local to our sites we partner with the charity primary engineer an organisation that aims to encourage more young people to consider careers in stem related professions ​ as part of our partnership we are funding the project for 10 schools in the long marston area andy capture andy pawley bid and revenue manager 