Siemens Mobility Powers Ahead with Solar Energy at Goole Rail Village

Siemens Mobility has taken a major step towards its net zero ambitions at Goole Rail Village, switching on 1,700 solar panels that will significantly reduce the site’s carbon footprint. The panels, now fully operational, generate up to 1MW of clean energy, equivalent to the power needed for more than 150 homes.

This investment is part of Siemens Mobility’s £240 million commitment to Goole, reinforcing the town’s position as a leading centre for rail innovation and manufacturing in the UK. The Goole Rail Village, designed as a low-carbon site, is home to manufacturing, components, logistics, innovation, and office facilities, making it a key contributor to the region’s economic growth.

The solar panels are just one element of a broader sustainability strategy at Goole Rail Village. Siemens Mobility has also invested £2 million in air source heat pumps to heat production facilities, cutting carbon emissions by 980 tonnes annually—an 88% reduction. Additionally, the company is electrifying its vehicle fleet, rolling out up to 70 EV chargers, and encouraging sustainable travel through initiatives like the Goole + Howden Hopper bus service.

Finbarr Dowling, Siemens Mobility’s Director of Localisation, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability:

“Our vision from the outset was for the Goole Rail Village to be net zero in operations by 2030. With green energy generation, clean heating, and sustainable transport policies, we’re ensuring every aspect of the site minimizes its carbon impact. This is not just about Siemens Mobility—it’s about supporting the wider rail industry in its journey towards decarbonisation.”

Beyond its environmental impact, Siemens Mobility’s Goole Rail Village is a major boost to the local economy, bringing up to 1,000 new jobs and creating 1,700 supply chain opportunities. The site is already assembling the new Piccadilly line trains for Transport for London (TfL), set to enter service later this year. The company also plans to build all future mainline trains for the UK at Goole, including battery bi-mode trains, which could save Britain’s railways £3.5 billion and 12 million tonnes of CO2 over 35 years.

David Harris, Siemens Mobility’s Construction Project Manager, highlighted the long-term vision:

“We’ve integrated sustainability into every phase of this project, from construction to operation. Now that the facility is up and running, we’re seeing the full benefits of investing in green infrastructure from day one.”

With the addition of a £40 million Bogie Assembly and Service Centre, Siemens Mobility’s total investment in Goole is set to reach £240 million, further cementing the town’s role as a key hub for rail manufacturing and innovation.

As Siemens Mobility continues its journey towards net zero, Goole Rail Village stands as a shining example of sustainable rail technology and economic investment. This project not only strengthens East Yorkshire’s status as a leader in rail innovation but also aligns with the UK’s broader goals for a low-carbon transport future.

For more information on Siemens Mobility’s Goole Rail Village, visit www.siemens.co.uk/goole.

Eight years of work comes to fruition for Invest East Yorkshire

Siemens Mobility’s new £200 million Goole factory will start manufacturing trains for the UK market from April 2024, creating thousands of new jobs, both directly and across the wider supply chain.

For the Invest East Yorkshire team, which first began liaising with Siemens Mobility about the possibility of its new factory coming to Goole back in 2016, it’s a major milestone that represents the culmination of eight years of work. 

The team’s relationship with Siemens Mobility first began when the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade (or UK Trade and Investment as it was then known) made it aware of the company’s nationwide search for a suitable location for its new train manufacturing site. 

Stephen Silvester, Inward Investment and Infrastructure Manager for Invest East Yorkshire, recalls: “Siemens were looking for a 50-acre plus site, with direct rail connection and room for expansion, as well as good workforce availability and local support. The enquiry went out via the usual Government channels to all local enterprise partnerships and devolved administrations across the country so that local authorities and other relevant stakeholders could respond with suggestions about suitable sites.” 

After collating the responses, Siemens Mobility drew up a shortlist of potential sites, two of which were in the East Riding of Yorkshire. 

Stephen and his colleagues then held a series of meetings and discussions with senior staff at Siemens Mobility to answer any questions they had and promote the East Riding of Yorkshire as the ideal location for their investment. 

The Invest East Yorkshire team offered a compelling and wide-ranging package of support, which convinced Siemens that Goole was the best location for their future plans. At the very core of the proposition was a fully serviced site on the Goole 36 Enterprise Zone, which the team had worked with land owner Homes England to open up for investment. This involved the development of the £13 million Tom Pudding Way link road, which was supported by an £8.3 million European Regional Development Fund grant and delivered in partnership with Homes England. 

Stephen explained: “We had a big hand in the selection of Goole for the manufacturing site, with Siemens considering places around the UK. After we’d presented them with a bespoke package of support, covering everything from planning guidance and labour market development to supply chain linkages and the opportunity to scale up their initial investment, the decision was made. Goole it was!” 

Finbarr Dowling, Siemens Mobility’s Director of Localisation, explained the key role that the Invest East Yorkshire team played in bringing the company to Goole:

“We had also worked with the Invest East Yorkshire team in relation to our investment in offshore wind in the area, so had confidence the team could deliver what we needed.” 

Mid-way through 2017, Goole was officially announced as the preferred location for Siemens Mobility’s new factory and the project moved into the next phase of development, with the Invest East Yorkshire team providing support every step of the way to achieve its goal of bringing Siemens Mobility to the Goole 36 site. Planning permission for the factory was approved in 2019 and this helped Siemens Mobility to secure a £1.5 billion contract to manufacture new underground trains for Transport for London.  

Since then, the £9 million development of the RaisE (Rail Accelerator & Innovation Solutions hub for Enterprise) Business Centre close to the new factory site has supported supply chain development and provided Siemens Mobility with office accommodation in close proximity to the factory.  

When it becomes fully operational, the new manufacturing site will create 700 new jobs, as well as a further 1,700 in the wider supply chain. Meanwhile, Siemens Mobility continues to invest in Goole, with a new components factory and logistics operation. It also has plans in the pipeline to expand its components business and, potentially, add a test track. These additional investments will create several hundred more new jobs.