Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has officially opened a new rail manufacturing plant in Goole, a development expected to create hundreds of high-skilled jobs while enhancing the efficiency of London’s tube network. The new facility, part of Siemens’ Rail Village, has been established with an investment of £200 million and aims to manufacture nearly 100 state-of-the-art Piccadilly Line trains.
During the opening ceremony on 3 October 2024, Haigh praised the facility for its potential to transform the local economy, stating, “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.”
In addition to the initial job creation, Siemens Mobility announced plans to invest an additional £40 million towards establishing a new Bogie Assembly and Service Centre at the site, which could generate up to 200 extra jobs. This new hub signifies a substantial advancement for the rail manufacturing sector, facilitated by government funding settlements with Transport for London (TfL), which instilled confidence in Siemens to invest in the region.
The opening comes at a crucial time, as it precedes the government’s International Investment Summit scheduled for 14 October 2024. The summit aims to attract major global investors and outline the government’s commitment to fostering a stable investment environment in the UK. Haigh expressed the government’s focus on creating favourable conditions for businesses, stating, “We will fix the foundations by investing in the jobs, industries, and infrastructure of the future to rebuild Britain and make everyone, everywhere better off.”
With the goal of addressing the historical ‘boom and bust’ cycle within the rail manufacturing sector, the government is keen on establishing a long-term industrial strategy for rolling stock. Haigh noted the importance of sustained investment, saying, “I know how vital rail manufacturing is to our economy, which is why we will not sit on our hands when it comes to supporting it.”
The new Piccadilly Line trains, which are expected to begin service on the London Underground network next year, will significantly enhance reliability, increase passenger capacity, and provide air-conditioned comfort. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, welcomed the new facility, describing it as an example of how investment in London can benefit the entire country. He stated, “This factory, where the new state-of-the-art Piccadilly Line trains will be built, will create up to 900 direct jobs and support another 1,700 in the supply chain.”
Sambit Banerjee, Joint CEO at Siemens Mobility, also highlighted the company’s commitment to the North of England, stating, “We’ll assemble 80% of London’s new Piccadilly Line trains and all future Siemens trains for the UK including our Verve battery train here in Goole.”
Today’s announcement reinforces the UK government’s commitment to revitalising the railways and strengthening economic growth through infrastructure improvements, ultimately enhancing connectivity for passengers and supporting regional development.