New Factory Where Underground Trains Built Opens
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh is set to inaugurate a £200 million train manufacturing plant, which will be dedicated to constructing the new Piccadilly Line trains as part of an overhaul aimed at enhancing reliability, accessibility, and speed for London’s commuters.
Ms Haigh will mark the occasion at Siemens’ Rail Village in Goole, Yorkshire where the formal opening of the site will take place. It’s expected to bolster 700 jobs.
Additionally, Siemens Mobility is revealing plans to invest up to an extra £40 million into a new bogie assembly and service centre, potentially creating 200 additional jobs.
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The Government credits its funding agreements with Transport for London (TfL) for giving Siemens the confidence to commit to the project. This development precedes the Government’s International Investment Summit on October 14, intended to attract companies and major investors while Labour showcases Britain as a prime business location.
In line with this effort, the Transport Secretary is advocating for an end to the “boom and bust” cycle in rail manufacturing by pushing for a sustained industrial strategy for rolling stock. Ms Haigh commented: “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 added: “Its opening demonstrates the importance of high quality, long-term investment to pave the way for employment and growth. 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. For too long, the cycle of boom-and-bust has held back this sector.”
“That’s why I am determined to put an end to the stop-start approach to investment and provide the industry with the certainty it needs to deliver a railway that is fit for the future.”
The new Piccadilly Line trains are set to hit the tracks of the London Underground network next year, promising to enhance reliability, offer additional services for passengers and boost capacity.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan praised the facility as “a fantastic example” of how investing in London “benefits the whole country.”
He added: “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, delivering great benefits to the wider UK economy, showing that where London succeeds, the whole country succeeds and vice versa.”