French rail giant Alstom has cemented its long-term commitment to the UK with the construction of new offices and the opening of advanced HVAC refurbishment facilities on the historic Crewe Works site. this £2 million (approximately $2.55 million) project brings together technology, sustainability and community development in a single centre.
The installation of the HVAC plant helps engineers inspect, refurbish and test the climate control units required to make trains comfortable and energy efficient. The plant’s capacity has increased from 16 to 35 units per week, with a target of reaching 50 units early next year. With this plant, 70 new high-skilled jobs have been created and 40 more jobs will be created.
Heritage and Innovation Under One Roof
In addition to the HVAC installation, Alstom also refurbished 20,000 square metres of office space with the help of its partner Woodhouse. Steve Harvey, Director of Services for the UK and Ireland, said that this critical investment will enable Crewe Works to prepare for the future and that the project will “combine heritage with innovation and contribute to the creation of sustainable transport for the future”.
The refurbished office space preserves the industrial heritage of the building, with open-plan workspaces that encourage collaboration and communication between employees.
operating since 1843, the Crewe Works continues to play an important role in railway engineering in the UK. The plant currently serves as the Alstom Centre of Excellence for the overhaul of bogies, wheels and traction motors. It will also produce bogies for HS2 trains for the first time in the UK for nearly two decades. This project reinforces Alstom’s commitment to sustainable growth and jobs, and Crewe is expected to play a key role in shaping the UK’s future railway scenario.
