Wabtec to close Brush Traction

THE Brush Traction works at Loughborough has been proposed for closure by its owner, Wabtec.

About 300 staff (220 permanent and 70 contractors) were informed of the decision on April 16, and it is not known whether all jobs are at risk or if some staff will be offered the chance to relocate.

The closure plan is subject to formal staff consultation, but the site has seen a noticeable downturn in work, with so many orders for new trains and less refurbishment work.

The Unite union, which represents around a third of the staff, called the closure notice “a crushing blow”.

A Wabtec spokesperson said: “Decisions like this are never easy but over the past few years, our site has experienced reduced volume and this decrease is no longer sustainable.

“The decision to close the plant would help simplify and optimise the company’s manufacturing footprint in today’s cyclical environment, as well as better position Wabtec for success.”

The history of Brush at the Falcon Works, in Loughborough, dates back to 1865. Over the years the company has manufactured a wide range of steam, diesel and electric locomotives.

Its most famous products include the Class 31, Class 47 and Class 60 diesels, and the Class 92 freight locos. Brush was also involved with the Channel Tunnel shuttle loco build, and built locos for New Zealand, Rhodesia, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Cuba.

More recently, the company has been involved in the repowering of HST Class 43s with MTU engines, conversion of Class 47 to 57 for Freightliner and Virgin, the rebuilding of Class 73s for GB Railfreight, the overhaul of Channel Tunnel shuttle locos, and conversion of Class 319 EMUs to Class 769 bi and tri-modes.

It was back in 2011 when Wabtec paid $31 million (US) for Brush Traction, but with lots of orders for new multiple units and a shift from loco-hauled workings, their order book has been thinning of late.

The RM understands the works will be gradually run down between now and Christmas, with traction motor work being transferred to one of Wabtec’s other sites.

There are also a number of vehicles on site which have been used as spares donors, and their fate is unknown at present.

BOTH: CHRIS MILNER As well as hundreds of locos for the UK market, Brush has built for overseas railways. One such example is this 1,000hp Sri Lankan Railway M7 class Bo-Bo No. 809, one of a class of 16 which was introduced from 1981. The train is arriving at Galle from Matara on February 3, 2016.

One of the Class 47 to 57 conversions being undertaken by Brush Traction for Freightliner on August 5, 2003.