New trains for the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension would be built in Yorkshire as part of national benefits from the shovel-ready project.
Local leaders from London visited Siemens Mobility UK’s Goole Rail Village on Friday to tour the site where the trains would be made.
The company’s Goole Rail Village, which opened late last year, represents an investment of up to £240 million and is already working for TfL building new Piccadilly Line trains.
As well as their Manufacturing Facility, a new Bogie Assembly and Service Centre is currently being built at Goole which will secure around 100 existing jobs and create up to a further 200. It is due to be operational towards the end of 2026.
Overall, Siemens Mobility’s investment in their Goole Rail Village will bring up to 1,000 new jobs to the East Riding of Yorkshire, as well as around 1,700 supply chain opportunities.
The Leader of Southwark Council, Cllr Kieron Williams, alongside Cllr Ese Erheriene from Lewisham Council and Cllr Mili Patel from Brent Council, toured the site and learned more about the positive impact that this project would make on the local community and manufacturing industries across the UK.
The proposed Bakerloo Line Extension would take the Bakerloo line through New Cross Gate and Lewisham in its first phase, and in the second phase to Hayes and Beckenham Junction.
The proposals also include plans to upgrade the trains running through the whole line. Being a transport line that’s existed for over 100 years, and with a fleet of trains active for over 50 years, the current stock of Bakerloo trains are an estimated 16 years past their recommended life span.
Thousands of people have signed up to #BackTheBakerloo and you can add your voice too on the campaign page.
Mark Speed, General Manager at Siemens Mobility UKI’s Goole Rail Village, said:
“Siemens Mobility is proud to be playing our part in building new trains to help transform rail travel across the capital.
“The talented team at our Goole Rail Village are already building the next generation of Piccadilly line trains and we are excited about the possibility of continuing that work for the Bakerloo line in future.”
The Leader of Southwark Council, Cllr Kieron Williams said:
“The Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension is vital to deliver the growth our country needs. It would bring a £1.5bn per year boost to our national economy, creating over 150,000 jobs across Britain. From the length of the line to the Siemens factory in Goole in Yorkshire that stands ready to build the trains."
Councillor Ese Erheriene, Lewisham Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Jobs and Skills said:
“Visiting the Siemens factory in Goole, Yorkshire has been eye-opening for how beneficial this project would be not just in Lewisham but right across the UK. The delivery of the Bakerloo Line Extension is expected to provide a significant economic boost during the delivery period, creating direct and indirect jobs and training opportunities which would unlock national skill development.
“This project provides a unique opportunity to raise productivity in London and northern regions simultaneously as well as unlocking the economic benefits of the wider supply chain being based in the UK.
“Lewisham desperately needs more housing and jobs within the borough. Extending the line would unlock 20,650 new homes and 6,230 new jobs, which would fast track the growth our borough needs. By halving journey times into central London, we expect to see a significant break down in employment and economic barriers for our residents.”
Councillor Mili Patel, Deputy Leader of Brent Council, said:
"Our visit to the Siemens plant in Goole demonstrates the tangible benefits that investing in transformative infrastructure projects, like the Bakerloo Line upgrade, can yield.
This project will deliver around 7,050 good-quality direct construction jobs each year across London and Goole, including 775 apprenticeship positions, creating secure and meaningful employment prospects into the future.
The Bakerloo Line has the oldest rolling stock in the country – the time is now to grasp the nettle, leverage the investment required to make this project a reality, and unlock the untapped economic benefits in both Brent and Goole.”
The #BusinessForBakerloo campaign focuses on the opportunities being presented by the project’s span in terms of development and growth and is being driven by a number of UK-wide developers, and smaller local businesses.
The wider #BackTheBakerloo campaign can be backed by pledges on the campaign page.
