A MAJOR Scottish engineering site has welcomed its first train in five years in what has been called a “really exciting moment for Glasgow and Scotland”.
The St Rollox train depot, in Springburn in Glasgow, was reopened by Gibson's Engineering this year after a closure in 2019 ended 163 years in business.
The firm said that “the Caley”, as it is known locally, will manufacture, repair and maintain light and heavy rolling stock, and bosses said they will expand the workforce to more than 1000 employees over the next five years and “hopefully” to 5000 in the next decade.
St Rollox, which was founded in 1856, plans on having a fully electrified rail line from its buildings to the mainline, between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and will be the only active wheel-shop facility in Scotland.
The first train at the depot in five years has been labelled a key moment in the journey to “restore ‘The Caley’ to what it once was”.
Fraser Gibson, the managing director of Gibson’s Engineering, said: “This is a really exciting moment for Glasgow and Scotland, given what we are planning to do and the number of people we’re going to employ.
“The size of the site gives us an opportunity to do more training, take on more apprentices, and make this place a centre of engineering once again.
“St Rollox has always been the main hub of the British engineering industry, so we want it to thrive once again. We’re going to put it back on the map – not just for the UK rail industry, Europe’s.”
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David Moulsdale, non-executive chairman at Gibson’s Engineering, said: “It is very emotional to see [St Rollox] up and running again, and we’re determined to grow the business quickly and make it successful.
“There are huge opportunities in the market, and we are perfectly placed to take advantage and restore ‘The Caley’ to what it once was.”
Speaking about the re-opening of the facility in May, Scottish three-time Formula One world champion, Sir Jackie Stewart said: “Growing up close to Glasgow, I was always proud of the city’s reputation for engineering expertise, and the Caley was at the forefront of that.
“By reopening the site, David Moulsdale and the team at Gibson’s Engineering are breathing new life into Scotland’s train manufacturing sector. I wish them all the best in this new venture, as it builds from strength to strength.”
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