Firm wins £40m contract to build new train factory
NEW MANUFACTURING SITE TO BE DEVELOPED BY SIEMENS MOBILITY
A £40m contract to build a new rail manufacturing site at Goole for Siemens Mobility has been awarded to a Yorkshire construction firm.
Leeds-based GMI Construction Group PLC will create the UK’S newest train factory along with 4.5km of rail track needed for connection to the main railway line.
It is part of the first phase of investment in Siemens Mobility’s new £200m train manufacturing plant and rail supply chain village, covering 67 acres, which has seen contracts worth £50m awarded to UK companies, the majority of which are based locally in Yorkshire and include Hessle and Brandesburton-based businesses.
This is aimed at supporting the Government’s “levelling up” agenda and part of Siemens Mobility’s commitment to UK jobs and growth, the company actively seeking out as many UK suppliers as possible to contribute to Goole’s success.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I am delighted to see the huge strides that have been made by Siemens Mobility since I visited their site in Goole last summer.
“As they develop the state-of-theart rail facility, their commitment to invest in local suppliers, boosting jobs and unlocking growth in Yorkshire, is a fantastic example of how we can level up across the country and build back better from the pandemic.”
Secretary of State for Transport and Northern Powerhouse Minister Grant Shapps said: “The North is the birthplace of our railways, with a rich history of manufacturing excellence, so it is fitting that the £40m contract to build the UK’S newest train factory has been awarded to a Yorkshire company.
“This will create new skilled jobs in Goole, boost local supply chains and generate long-term investment.”
Sambit Banerjee, managing director of Siemens Mobility rolling stock and customer services, said: “Our goal is to really put Goole on the map.
“We want to create more than just a rail manufacturing factory, this is about generating long-term investment, skills and jobs.”
Lee Powell, divisional managing director at GMI, said: “We are delighted to be working on the Goole project. We are fully committed to the local area, just as Siemens Mobility is.
“We have a very strong local supply chain and everyone who is involved in this project from GMI Construction lives within a 25-mile radius of the site.
“We have an employment and skills plan including creating apprenticeships and employing those who have previously been unemployed and we will be engaging with local educational establishments and charities.”
The facility is scheduled to open in 2023 and the first trains to be manufactured will be new Tube trains for London’s Piccadilly line, for Transport for London.
Local firms supporting the construction include Hessle-based C R Reynolds (enablement works) and Clay 10 (site visuals), along with Brandesburton’s Premier Modular (temporary offices).
Siemens Mobility’s Goole development will create up to 700 direct jobs, with a further 250 roles created during the construction phase and an additional 1,700 indirect supply chain opportunities.
The company plans to create an associated rail supplier village and innovation centre with co-located suppliers, making Goole a rail centre of excellence for the UK.
A DISABLED man has been left with sleepless nights after “constant” shouting and laughing coming from his partying student neighbours.
The 32-year-old, who lives in Heathcote Street, west Hull, and who wishes not to be named, says the rowdy behaviour is affecting his entire family’s mental health.
He said: “It started in August last year. Students moved in next door, they are quite antisocial, laughing and shouting into the early hours of the morning and it’s getting to be constant.
“We’ve told them countless times. We’ve tried to be nice and we’ve shouted back, but we’re just a normal family and we could do without it.
“Personally, I have Asperger’s and it really affects my mental health, we’re just not sleeping.”
The west Hull man says on Saturday night the family were forced to stay up all night after his student neighbours partied until 8am, also claiming that the youths invited others over, breaking lockdown rules.
“It’s mainly just shouting and laughing but sometimes music too,” he said. “They leave the windows open, which obviously makes it even worse.”
Living in a student populated area, the family say they are surrounded by students, but it’s only one of their neighbours that have made their life difficult.
The stressed man said: “There’s about six of them in the house.
“I’m losing sleep and every time we’ve told them to stop they just laugh at us.”
He went on to say that he had informed police of the recurring incidents but that nothing had been done to stop it.
However, Humberside Police have said that an investigation was carried out on the matter, but that no suspects could be identified.
A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “We have received one report from the resident of that address on November 21, 2020.
“The report was in relation to an issue whereby a group of people made threats towards the householder.
“An investigation was carried out but unfortunately no suspects could be identified. The householder was provided with crime prevention advice and asked to contact us if any further incidents happened. “To date, no further reports of concerns have been reported. However, we would encourage him to call us on 101 should he need to report further concerns so that we can investigate these issues for him.
“Everyone has the right peace and if anyone has about antisocial behaviour neighbourhood they should non-emergency number 101.”
Hull City Council said: “The council works closely with Humberside Police and other partners to tackle crime, disorder and antisocial behaviour, and this includes noise disturbances.
“We encourage residents to report any incidents to either the police, or the council on 300300.”
I’m losing sleep and every time we’ve told them to stop they just laugh at us
Angry resident
to live in concerns in their call our