Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, visited the Siemens Mobility rail manufacturing facility at Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, on Friday 18 August. He was given a tour of the site by Sambit Banerjee, joint CEO Siemens Mobility UKI, where he also met some of the local apprentices starting out their careers in the rail industry.
There are currently 12 apprentices learning the trade at the rail manufacturing facility, with a further three set to join in September. There are also five apprentices working at the Components Facility, where gearboxes, traction motors and other parts for trains and tram fleets across the UK, are maintained.
Huw Merriman MP, Rail Minister, said: “It was great to visit the Siemens Mobility manufacturing facility. I saw first-hand the team’s incredible work as they get ready to build and maintain the trains that will improve rail journeys for people up and down the country.
“As well as contributing to our railways, the site is helping to grow the local economy by investing in community spaces and supporting over 1700 skilled roles in the supply chain, while creating hundreds of new jobs.
“It was also a pleasure to meet Siemens apprentice Milly whose fantastic work looking after the site’s colony of bees reminded me of own time as a beekeeper, so I applaud the great work they are doing for our winged friends.”
Sambit Banerjee, Joint CEO at Siemens Mobility UKI, said: “It was a pleasure to show the Rail Minister around our site in Goole and demonstrate how we are creating a centre of excellence for rail technology in the UK. We are in an exciting phase with final fit out of the rail manufacturing facility about to get underway and recruiting more people ahead of manufacturing of the Piccadilly line trains for Transport for London from early next year.”
During his visit, Mr. Merriman was presented with a jar of local honey by one of the apprentices. Milly Johnston joined the organisation in 2020 and has spent the last three years training to become an Advanced Rail Technician. She has also recently taken on the role of local beekeeper at the apiary on the Siemens Mobility site, next to the Oakhill Nature Reserve. The first harvest of honey was collected in July, where Milly was guided by a trained beekeeper from the Selby and District Beekeeping Association.
Milly Johnston, said: “When I joined Siemens Mobility in 2020 I was excited to have taken on an apprenticeship in the town I grew up in. I have learned so much about engineering, sustainability and building trains and love working in the rail industry. I have also had the opportunity to become a beekeeper, something I had never dreamed of! It really feels like we are part of the community here and I’m looking forward to the next steps in my career.”
Since Siemens Mobility’s arrival in Goole the organisation has taken an active role in the community and surrounding area, this has included carrying out significant improvements to Oakhill Nature Reserve, enabling it to flourish. Work has been done to make it easier to access the nature reserve and improve car parking. Sculptures and benches have been installed for everyone to enjoy along the nature trail. The reserve is a haven for wildlife and is regularly visited by local residents and Siemens Mobility employees alike.
The rail manufacturing facility at Goole has been built with sustainability at its heart, fitting with the organisation’s overall global target to achieve net zero by 2030. Air source heat pumps have been installed across the facility to ensure there is no need for gas heating.
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.
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.
Image credit: Siemens Mobility
