Industrial giant Siemens has said its new £100m rail equipment manufacturing plant announced this week will be the most sophisticated of its kind in the world.
The Chippenham factory, which will employ around 800 skilled workers, will replace one on the same site which has produced signalling and control systems for much of the UK’s railway network over the past 100-plus years.
The new cutting-edge facility was announced at a ceremony in the factory attended by Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt and Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines. Siemens Mobility, part of the giant German manufacturing group, has operated the plant since 2013,
Siemens Mobility chief financial officer Karl Blaim said the company expected the new factory to be the “most modern signalling facility not just in Europe, but in the world”.
Up to half the output would be destined for projects outside the UK, he added.
The existing factory produces components for traffic control and signalling equipment along with electronic components for digital train control technology.
The new plant is expected to also make components for rail electrification and telecom systems. It will open as around two-thirds of the UK’s railway signalling equipment will become outdated within less than a decade.
Siemens Mobility UK & Ireland joint CEO Rob Morris said the investment was a strong commitment to Chippenham and the UK.
“Siemens Mobility’s Chippenham site, along with our 30 sites across the country, has been transforming rail, travel, and transport in Britain – and it will continue to do so with cloud-based rail technology connecting the real and the digital worlds, digitalising rail.”
Siemens said the new plant, which is expected to open in 2026, will also boost Wiltshire’s economy as the firm is working closely with local small and medium enterprises across the supply chain.
As part of the investment, Siemens Mobility will continue to develop and code the digital signalling systems on the East Coast Main Line.
The current Chippenham factory designed, manufactured and delivered signalling and control systems for the Elizabeth Line, North Wales Coast, Birmingham New Street and many others across the world.
