Siemens Mobility has officially opened its new £100 million Rail Technology Centre in Chippenham, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the UK rail sector and creating a new global centre of excellence for signalling and control systems.
The state-of-the-art facility at SouthPoint Business Park was formally opened in the presence of Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and regional leaders, marking a significant milestone for both Siemens Mobility and Britain's railway industry.
Replacing the company's historic neighbouring site, the new development has been designed to support the next generation of digital railway technology while ensuring the continuity of Chippenham's long-standing role at the heart of rail innovation. The transition to the new facility, including the relocation of all 800 employees, was completed without any disruption to manufacturing operations.
The investment comes at a pivotal time for the UK rail sector as it accelerates the adoption of digital signalling and advanced control systems to improve reliability, safety, and network capacity.
“Siemens Mobility's new rail technology centre is a real boost for Chippenham and a vote of confidence in Britain's rail industry. The digital signalling produced on site will help our railways become more reliable and safer, whilst strengthening our skills base by supporting hundreds of local jobs and apprenticeships,” said Heidi Alexander, UK Secretary of State for Transport.
The facility will play a central role in developing and manufacturing technologies including computer-based interlockings and the European Train Control System (ETCS), both of which are critical to the future of Britain's digital railway programme.
Rob Morris, Managing Director of Siemens Mobility UK and Ireland, said the site would help support both domestic and international rail projects.
“There is huge ambition to transform Britain’s railways by bringing track and train together to create a simpler, more reliable service for passengers and freight. Our new centre strengthens our ability to design, test and manufacture the next generation of rail technology, just like Chippenham has done for over a century. The systems developed here will support millions of passenger journeys, helping to deliver a more reliable railway across Britain while serving rail networks around the world.”
The opening also highlights Siemens Mobility's wider commitment to UK rail manufacturing. The company has committed £360 million across the UK, including up to £240 million in the Goole Rail Village development in East Yorkshire.
"We’re committed to developing the next generation of skilled talent who will build and shape Britain's future railways, so taking part in today’s national Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) lesson and seeing the excitement of the children has been incredibly special. We’re proud to officially open our new £100 million Rail Technology Centre, as part of our £360 million investment in the UK, including up to £240 million in our Goole Rail Village. As a key partner to the railway, we're investing in Britain's future through our people, technology and manufacturing capabilities”, said Aglaja Schneider, Managing Director of Siemens Mobility UK and Ireland.
Supporting Great British Railways and Digital Signalling
The new centre is expected to support key national programmes aimed at modernising Britain's railway infrastructure, including further deployment of digital signalling technologies.
Network Rail Chief Executive Jeremy Westlake welcomed the investment and its contribution to the industry's transformation agenda.
"Siemens Mobility’s new site is a big step forward for Britain’s railway, as the industry embraces innovative technologies in order to deliver a more reliable service for the public. Our railway is undergoing a generational change as we move to Great British Railways, and through programmes such as the East Coast Digital Programme, we’re already seeing what close collaboration between partners throughout the sector can achieve for passengers and freight.”
Building on More Than a Century of Rail Innovation
Chippenham's railway heritage stretches back to 1897, when the site was first established by Evans O'Donnell before becoming the headquarters of the Westinghouse Brake & Signalling Company.
Over the decades, technologies developed in the town have been deployed across some of the UK's most significant transport projects, including London's Elizabeth line, Victoria line and Central line.
The new facility ensures that legacy continues in a modern environment built to BREEAM Excellent standards. Alongside energy-efficient offices and manufacturing areas, the development has delivered a 10% net gain in biodiversity through extensive native planting and landscaping.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Railway Engineers
To celebrate the opening, Siemens Mobility invited local primary school pupils to take part in a hands-on STEM event delivered by BAFTA-winning presenter Maddie Moate. The lesson was broadcast nationally to more than 1,000 children.
“Science becomes so much more exciting when you can see what it actually does in the real world. We’ve taken things children learn about in the classroom - forces, electricity and simple problem-solving - and shown how those same ideas help make a railway work.
“There are few better places to learn science than inside a factory where engineers are living it every day. And it’s a powerful way of showing young people how jobs in places like this are doors that are open to them," said Maddie Moate.
Siemens engineer Becky Worsey highlighted the importance of giving young people first-hand exposure to engineering careers.
"As an engineer and a mum to a ten-year-old daughter that wants to have a job like mine, I want young people to see that engineering is for them. There are so many different routes into the industry and career options behind the railways people use every day.
"If children get the opportunity to meet an engineer, walk into a place like our new state-of-the-art Rail Technology Centre and understand that the science they are learning at school is being used to solve real problems, those careers suddenly become much easier to imagine."
Steve Rafferty, Headteacher at Monkton Park Primary School, added:
"Primary school is exactly the age when children start forming ideas about what they are good at and what they might want to do in the future, so it is important that we broaden those horizons early.
"For our pupils, having a major engineering employer like Siemens here in Chippenham makes those opportunities feel real and local. They can see that the science they are learning today could one day lead to a skilled career just a few miles from where they are growing up."
Siemens' focus on skills development continues to grow. Last year the company welcomed 326 apprentices, graduates and interns, while the National Training Academy for Rail has now trained more than 28,000 people. Across its wider education programme, Siemens reached more than 600,000 students, teachers and community members and supported over 2,800 schools across the UK.
Image credits: Siemens
