On Thursday 20 April Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Rt.Hon. Michael Gove MP joined Managing Director for Rolling Stock and Customer Services at Siemens Mobility Sambit Banerjee, along with local apprentices to officially open the new Components Facility at the site in Goole.
Set to create an additional 30 new skilled jobs in the area in the next year, the £7 million facility is located at the heart of the Siemens Mobility rail village in Goole. The facility will maintain gearboxes, traction motors and other parts for train and tram fleets across the UK, helping to keep trains from Scotland to the South Coast running.
The components facility was previously operating out of a small space in Leeds and already employs 40 full-time staff, including five apprentices from the region. The new dedicated 4000sqm space will allow the state-of-the-art facility to take on the maintenance of further components in the future. Much of the work now done at the site in Goole had previously taken place in mainland Europe.
Today’s opening highlights Siemens Mobility’s commitment to the UK, having been built by local firm GMI, which has built the rest of the Siemens rail village. The GMI supply chain is based entirely in the UK, with over 70% of it based in Yorkshire. It also marks the next phase of Siemens Mobility’s plans to establish Goole as a centre of excellence for rail technology in the UK.
Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, said:
“It’s fantastic to see Siemens Mobility investing in this new facility in Goole. This is a great example of how we’re working with business to deliver on our commitment to secure international investment in the UK to create new skilled jobs and level up the country.“
Sambit Banerjee, Managing Director for Rolling Stock and Customer Services at Siemens Mobility, said:
“We’re proud to be able to show the Secretary of State the impact that our site in Goole is already having creating jobs and supporting the region, and how this fits into his ambitions for levelling up. Investment in the rail industry is essential for not only boosting growth, but ensuring we have the capabilities to design, manufacture and maintain the different parts of our rail system here in the UK. What’s more, our state-of-the-art rail village will enable us to drive forward a smarter, greener and more digital rail network.“
Joining the visit was local MP for Brigg and Goole, Andrew Percy. He said:
“The rail village at Goole is one I have visited many times and worked closely with Siemens Mobility to mark many milestones in recent years. It clearly shows how local investment creates jobs and opportunities, not just directly in the rail industry but the vital support services too with a recently opened new cafe and office space this is a hub of employment opportunities.“
Siemens Mobility is investing up to £200 million in the rail village at Goole, a site that spans 67-acres, the size of 35 football pitches. From next year London Underground’s new Piccadilly line trains will be assembled at Goole before they start entering passenger service from 2025.
Overall, Siemens Mobility’s investment in the region will create 700 new jobs, with a further 250 roles during the construction phase and an additional 1,700 indirect supply chain opportunities promoting localisation and helping to serve other global markets by 2030.
Photo credit: Siemens
