The Herald

Ambitious expansion plans announced for famed rail yard

AN engineerin­g firm run by father and son Dougie and Fraser Gibson has revealed ambitions to build the workforce at a “world-famous” site in Glasgow into the thousands over the next decade.

Gibson’s Engineerin­g, which is engaged in train manufactur­ing, maintenanc­e and repairs, said it is “immensely proud” to announce the opening of its new engineerin­g facility at the St Rollox rail depot in Springburn, Glasgow.

It declared: “Affectiona­tely referred to locally as ‘The Caley’, this iconic and important historic site is poised to play a pivotal role in preserving and building on Scotland’s r ich heritage of railway engineerin­g.

“It is the largest manufactur­ing, maintenanc­e and repair rail depot in Scotland, and the second-largest in the UK.”

The company said the reopening of the Glasgow facility “will create employment opportunit­ies for engineers, coachbuild­ers, project managers and apprentice­s, with the aim to expand the Gibson’s Engineerin­g workforce to over 1,000 employees over the next five years and hopefully 5,000 over the next 10 years”.

It noted that the site’s skilled workforce would build new trains, maintain existing fleets and carry out repairs,such as accident damage and vehicle overhaul.

Gibson’s Engineerin­g said: “The depot will serve as a one-stop shop for train manufactur­ing, maintenanc­e and repairs, ensuring the seamless operation of light and heavy rolling stock.

“St Rollox intends to have 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.”

It added that the engineerin­g facility “will allow the site to once again play a prominent role in transformi­ng the railway engineerin­g industry in the UK over the next few decades and beyond.”

Gibson’s Engineerin­g declared its directors and management team had a combined experience of more than 300 years in rail transport engineerin­g, and “a reputation for innovation, reliabilit­y and craftsmans­hip”.

Dougie and Fraser Gibson both have long experience in rail engineerin­g.

Fraser Gibson, managing director of Gibson’s Engineerin­g, said: “This is fantastic news for Scotland, which has a proud heritage and tradition of rail manufactur­ing, maintenanc­e and repair. It’s full steam ahead and Dougie and I are excited to work with our team to get the facility fully operationa­l, and to get ‘The Caley’ thriving again, as it did for over 160 years previously.”

Gibson’s Engineerin­g noted that, following the closure of the depot in 2019 by an investment fund, businessma­n David Moulsdale purchased the facility in 2021 and had a “vision for the revitalisa­tion of this landmark as a train engineerin­g depot”.

It added: “Over £10 million has already been invested by David including the purchase price of the facility, refurbishm­ent and ongoing maintenanc­e of the buildings.”

Mr Moulsdale, founder of eyecare business Optical Express, said: “I was born and raised just three miles from ‘The Caley’.

“I vividly recall the enormous impact this unique engineerin­g powerhouse had on me, and on the Greater Glasgow and broader Scottish community.

“I’m extremely confident that our ambition to see significan­tly larger-scale employment of engineers, coachbuild­ers, project managers and apprentice­s in the north of Glasgow will come to fruition.

“Together with Gibson’s Engineerin­g and the local community, we are breathing new life into ‘The Caley’ and the Scottish economy.”