Siemens Mobility’s Rail Village in Goole, East Yorkshire, recently welcomed Councillor Rob Waltham MBE, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, and Ros Jones CBE, Mayor of Doncaster to its Goole Rail Village.
The visit provided an opportunity to see Siemens Mobility’s investment of up to £240 million in the region, which will bring up to 1,000 direct jobs and around 1,700 across the supply chain. The facility is designed to significantly contribute to regional economic development and is already producing new Piccadilly line trains for London, with hopes to produce new Bakerloo line trains and battery bi-mode trains to transform rail travel for the UK.
During the tour, Cllr Waltham and Mayor Jones heard about the site’s commitment to developing a diverse and skilled workforce, with more than 40 apprentices currently developing careers in manufacturing and engineering. Initiatives like Women in Manufacturing events promote gender diversity in STEM, complemented by various employee resource groups such as Disability, EmBRACE, Pride and Women’s Networks.
Ros Jones CBE, Mayor of Doncaster, said:
“Doncaster has a proud rail heritage, and it’s inspiring to see Siemens Mobility continuing that legacy with modern manufacturing and technologies right on our doorstep. My focus remains on delivering jobs, growth, and prosperity for Doncaster, and the Goole Rail Village is clearly a vital contributor to this. The discussions around future train orders and the potential of battery bi-mode technology are crucial for ensuring sustained employment and advancing sustainable transport solutions for our communities.”
Rob Waltham and Ros Jones took interest in Siemens Mobility’s plan where Siemens also intends to assemble future battery bi-mode train orders for the UK. These trains have the potential to eliminate the need for new diesel passenger trains, offering a solution for the UK’s extensive unelectrified routes in areas where it isn’t practical to electrify any time soon. This technology, already proven and operational in Germany, could save Britain £3.5 billion over 35 years and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 12 million tonnes. The Goole facility is already assembling the next generation of Piccadilly line trains and is ready to deliver new Bakerloo line trains too, projects crucial for modernising London travel and securing skilled jobs in East Yorkshire.
Niraj Sondhi, Commercial Director at Siemens Mobility, said:
“We were very pleased to host Councillor Waltham and Mayor Jones as a substantial contributor to local employment throughout Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, offering jobs, apprenticeships, and training for local people in North Lincolnshire and Doncaster. This visit underscored our shared goal of boosting regional prosperity and transforming rail travel and transport”
The Rail Village comprises of a train manufacturing facility, components facility, logistics and distribution centre, with a brand-new bogie assembly and service centre currently in construction – embedding the site as a driver of skilled jobs and economic growth across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.