Union warning over 147 rail foundry jobs

Missing out on contract ‘could close plant’

A TRADE union has warned that 147 jobs could be lost at a foundry specialising in railway parts if it misses out on a contract to an overseas firm.

Unite said the entire Progress Rail Services plant in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, could be shut by the end of the year, in what it claimed would be another “massive blow” to manufacturing jobs in Scotland.

The company – part of the giant Caterpillar conglomerate – supplies a variety of rail products and has five sites across the UK.

But the union warned the loss of the South Queensferry operation would be another example of skilled railway work being removed from Scotland.

It said a Network Rail decision to send work overseas could lead to the site’s closure.

The Record understands redundancies could begin on November 30 with the dismissals following by the end of the year.

It comes after the closure in June of Wabtec’s Kilmarnock factory, where train carriages were refurbished, with the loss of about 100 skilled jobs.

Last July, 200 jobs were axed when the historic Caley rail works in Springburn closed its doors after more than 130 years.

Progress Rail Services acquired the South Queensferry site in 2011 and described it as “one of the most modern steel foundries in the UK with a history of high-integrity steel casting manufacture for over 100 years”.

Unite industrial officer Graeme

Turnbull said: “Around 150 highly skilled jobs are on the brink of being lost over the coming months.

“Which is why we are calling on the Scottish and UK Governments to immediately initiate discussions with the company and Unite to see what measures could be brought forward to keep the site open.

“It’s depressing news to see a successful UK- based manufacturer that has supported this country’s rail infrastructure for over 100 years being faced with closure.

“The loss would mean that the UK network would be dependant on imported railway components, which would be a further travesty following the closures of Wabtec and the Caley rail works.”

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “Network Rail has yet to award its new track (switches and crossings) contracts but has approached its current suppliers with the indicative outcome of its tender and bidding process.

“The vast majority of this work, 90 per cent, remains in the UK.

“Progress Rail currently has a full workload from Network Rail for at least another six months and we continue to work with them, and Caterpillar, to manage current orders which they have accepted and are contracted to complete.”

The Record has approached Progress Rail and Caterpillar for comment.