Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Home Social Responsibility Brodie Engineering officially opens historic Caledonia Works site

Brodie Engineering officially opens historic Caledonia Works site

Brodie Engineering has announced the official opening of its Caledonia Works in Kilmarnock, which it acquired in 2020.

The beginnings of the historic site of the Caledonia Works dates from around 1847. Following its closure in March 2020, Brodie Engineering bought the rail engineering site — preserving its future for Kilmarnock and Scotland.

Brodie Engineering’s Caledonia Works and its Bonnyton Rail Depot, strategically placed as neighbours on either side of the Kilmarnock rail track, are Scotland’s last two dedicated rail engineering works.

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To mark the opening occasion, Team Brodie was joined by special dignitaries, including the Scottish Government Minister for zero carbon buildings, active travel and tenants’ rights, Patrick Harvie; president of the Railway Benefit Fund, Pete Waterman, OBE; MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Willie Coffey; and provost Jim Todd of East Ayrshire Council.

Commenting on the event, Brodie Engineering’s owner and managing director, Gerry Hilferty, said: “I saved these works during a challenging time with the Covid pandemic, and despite us safeguarding this important rail asset we were immediately limited to concentrating our essential rail engineering work in our already established Bonnyton depot.

“As a business, and alongside my dedicated Team Brodie; the best in the class at rail engineering, I am excited to be announcing today’s opening of the Caledonia Works and I thank the Minister and Pete Waterman for supporting this announcement.

“As Scotland’s railway returns to public ownership and the rail industry across the UK respond to the renewal of the industry following on from Covid I am confident there is a bright future for both our Caledonia and Bonnyton Rail Works. In addition to our traditional rail repair work I look forward to working alongside and supporting rail industry leaders as we all navigate our way to delivering on future commitments on the development of the zero-emission railway.

“As a business we will evolve and increase our capability to work with the industry to support any new outputs and developments.”

Patrick Harvie, minister for zero carbon buildings, active travel and tenants’ rights said: “The Scottish Government welcomes the investment by Brodie Engineering in the Caledonia Rail Works particularly at a time when we are taking forward our ambitious plans to decarbonise the rail network in Scotland including the procurement by ScotRail of zero emission rolling stock.

“This investment is very good news for the rail manufacturing and supply industry in Scotland and supports the preservation and growth of high skilled rail engineering jobs in Scotland.

“It offers real benefits including supporting over 90 existing jobs while also creating the potential for new highly skilled roles.”

Pete Waterman OBE, president of the Railway Benefit Fund, said, “I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to conduct the official re-opening of the Caledonia Works. The Caledonia Works are steeped in history and tradition and it’s great that rail engineering will continue here, under Brodie Engineering’s ownership, for what I hope is for many years to come.”

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