Northern is set to take control of Neville Hill engineering depot in Leeds.
The depot had previously been jointly managed by Northern and East Midlands Railway (EMR) and is a vital element for rail services in the North.
Neville Hill depot currently employs around 550 rail staff including engineers, technicians and train presentation operatives.
All former EMR employees have been transferred to Northern as part of the takeover.
Jack Commandeur, Engineering Director at Northern believes the takeover at Neville Hill will help provide an improved rail service in the North.
Mr Commandeur said: “This is a positive step for rail in the North that will help to deliver more consistent and reliable services.
“[The takeover will] strengthen critical engineering processes and open up future opportunities to develop the depot into a state-of-the-art facility.
Mr Commandeur also believes the depot has the potential to be expanded into a centre for education and development.
Mr Commandeur added: “We have ambitious long-term plans for the site and are exploring long term opportunities.
“We hope [these plans] will, in time, see the depot transform into an engineering centre of excellence with educational partnerships and development programmes.”
