Plans for hundreds of jobs and £200m investment in new Siemens train factory in Yorkshire

Plans for a new state-of-the-art train factory could mean a £200million investment and 700 new skilled jobs in East Yorkshire.

Engineering giant Siemens says it has secured a site in Goole and plans to establish a major new plant to manufacture and commission trains in a move which "has the potential to have a tremendous impact on the Yorkshire economy and the North of England as a whole".

The plans were announced infront of Transport Secretary Chris Grayling who said the choice of location was ''a real sign of confidence in the region, a real sign of confidence in Goole and the local workforce."

The move would be Siemens' second landmark investment in East Yorkshire following its £300million wind turbine blade plant, which employs hundreds of people in Hull.

The firm said the new factory could employ up to 700 people in skilled engineering and manufacturing roles, plus an additional 250 during the construction phase.

And it said it expected around 1,700 indirect jobs to be created throughout the UK supply chain.

Siemens said it already employs 4,400 people in the rail and wider transport sector out of a total 15,000 strong UK workforce.

It said there are currently 450 Siemens-built trains in service and the company has eight purpose-built maintenance facilities in the UK.

Plans for the 67acre site next the M62 in Goole include sidings and the potential for the development of a test track.