On October 3, 2024, Siemens Mobility marked a significant milestone for the UK rail industry with the grand opening of its new train manufacturing facility in Goole, East Yorkshire. This state-of-the-art site is expected to play a pivotal role in the future of Britain’s rail infrastructure, backed by substantial investment and job creation.
The establishment of the Goole Rail Village involved a remarkable £200 million investment, demonstrating Siemens' strong commitment to the North of England's economic growth and rail manufacturing capabilities. The facility aims to assemble nearly 100 new Piccadilly Line trains for London's Underground, enhancing reliability and passenger experience from the outset of next year.
Alongside the main manufacturing plant, Siemens announced plans for an additional £40 million investment to create a new Bogie Assembly and Service Centre. This expansion is projected to secure around 100 existing jobs and add up to another 200 new positions, greatly impacting the local workforce. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh emphasized during the opening ceremony the importance of such long-term, high-quality investments for regional economies.
Ministers celebrated this launch as part of efforts to shift away from the historical boom-and-bust cycles often seen within the rail manufacturing sector. Speaking at the event, Haigh voiced her determination to create stability within the industry, asserting, “For too long, the stop-start approach has held back this sector. I am resolved to provide the certainty the industry needs to deliver railways fit for the future.”
The Goole facility is strategically situated and leverages advanced technologies to not only manufacture but also assemble the next generation of UK trains, including freight and passenger options. This includes Siemens Mobility's innovative battery trains, which are expected to come online by the end of the decade as part of its plans to service global rail markets.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, attended the opening and praised the factory, citing its potential to create up to 900 direct jobs and 1,700 more within the supply chain. He noted how investments such as this serve to benefit the entire country, stating, "This factory, where the new state-of-the-art Piccadilly line trains will be built, will deliver great benefits to the wider UK economy. Where London succeeds, the whole country succeeds.”
The factory is situated within the Goole Rail Village, which includes other key facilities such as the Components Facility for maintaining gearboxes and traction motors, and the Logistics Centre which ensures operational efficiency. All these components collectively play a role in transforming Goole as the UK's centre for rail innovation and manufacturing.
During the grand opening event, Sambit Banerjee, joint CEO of Siemens Mobility, expressed pride over the achievement, highlighting it as the result of over ten years of dedication to developing rail capabilities within the region: “After more than a decade of tremendous dedication and hard work, we have officially opened our state-of-the-art Rail Village,” he remarked.
The ambition for this facility extends beyond just assembly lines; it seeks to establish Goole as a hub of expertise within the rail industry, enhancing the local supply chain and potentially serving future international projects.
This announcement is timely, coming just before the UK government's International Investment Summit scheduled for October 14, where policymakers and business leaders will focus on attracting investment and strengthening the economy.
Haigh’s comments during the opening foreshadowed more than just local job creation; she underscored the facility's role as part of the UK’s broader strategy to modernize rail transport nationally. “This impressive, world-class facility will be transformational to Goole and its people, providing a boost to the region’s economy and supporting hundreds of skilled jobs,” she said.
With the rail manufacturing industry gaining momentum following this launch, the hopes are high for improved transport connections, fulfilling the growing demands for more efficient, reliable public transportation across the UK. The new Piccadilly Line trains are expected to transform commuter experiences, equipped with features like air conditioning and enhanced accessibility for passengers.
Reflecting on the future, Siemens envisions the Goole site as a nucleus for future endeavors, committed to not only transforming UK rail travel but also setting standards globally. Local communities and economies will likely feel the ripple effects of this ambitious project for years to come, paving the way for regional revitalization and economic dynamism fueled by significant investment.
Overall, the opening of the Siemens Goole train manufacturing facility is seen as not just another industrial plant, but as emblematic of the UK’s renewed enthusiasm and strategic investment plans aimed at sustaining growth, enriching local economies, and fostering innovation within the rail sector.
