The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Talgo train project in Fife still on track
The boss of the British operation of Spanish train manufacturer Talgo remains optimistic that its planned Fife factory will still get off the ground, despite the impact of coronavirus.
Talgo wants to build the world’s most advanced train-manufacturing facility at Longannet. It would employ around 1,000 people.
However, the project depends on the company getting fresh manufacturing contracts here or overseas.
Talgo UK managing director Jon Veitch is still enthusiastic about the future.
He said: “There are several potential orders in the pipeline.
“Although I had hoped to have been able to make an announcement on orders and employment prospects before the end of last year, most people will recognise that the calendar has slipped slightly as it is for our customers to dictate timescales.
“Suffice to say that Talgo would not be sustaining a presence here if we were not optimistic.
“The day that an order – or group of orders – provides critical mass, we will activate an employment, training and construction plan which sees a working factory some 23 months later.”
Talgo is a leading specialised rolling-stock engineering firm mainly focused on designing, manufacturing and servicing technologically differentiated, fast, lightweight trains.
The company has an industrial presence in 44 countries plus two factories in Spain.
With these two facilities in its home country nearing capacity, in 2017 Talgo chose the UK as the location for a third factory.
Since then, the firm has been laying foundations to revolutionise the UK train market through “true manufacturing”.
A spokesman said: “Unlike other manufacturers – which assemble kits of parts from overseas – Talgo has an ‘All-britain’ strategy, in which the company plans to source components from within the United Kingdom.
“This approach will grow the UK’S manufacturing capability, strengthen supply chains, create more jobs, and boost local economies.
“A series of supplier events have been held to turn aspiration into reality and the levels of response have been encouraging,” he said.
“The site at Longannet will thus be wedded to the UK supply chain and, working closely with education, will capture the imagination and co-ordinate the next generation of UK innovators and engineers.
“Add to this an Innovation Centre in Chesterfield, and Talgo believes that its actions will keep more money in the UK economy.
“It doesn’t stop there; unlike other manufacturers Talgo UK will transfer some knowledge and research and development functions to the UK, ensuring that the UK will become a vital cog in the global operation.”
Longannet was selected from an initial long list of around 60 UK locations.
It was chosen for a variety of reasons including accessibility to skilled workers, the potential to train and develop a new workforce of varying abilities, a direct rail link, and access to ports for export.
Demolition and repurposing of the Fife site started in February 2017.
Fife Council approved proposals for the land in December 2019.
Mr Veitch believes that, – despite the impact of the pandemic – the future for rail transportation is bright, particularly given a greater environmental focus.
He added: “Some Talgo trains are already a third more energy efficient than certain alternatives, and our next generation of engineers will continue to develop the improvements which our experts already have under way.”