Tim Sharpe, UK Operations Director at Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems, reveals that approximately £5 million is being invested in the UK over the next year, both to maintain already-excellent service levels and to reduce the company’s carbon footprint.
For operators, the reliable performance of braking and other key subsystems is fundamental to keeping trains moving safely. That’s why we’ve spent decades strengthening our local capability here in the UK. We have to be ready to supply the world’s train manufacturers with the technology they need, where they need it. Braking systems and other equipment often have lifespans measured in decades, and customers need to have confidence that Knorr-Bremse will be there to support them throughout their train’s operational life.
Furthermore, when it comes to overhauling train systems, work needs to be carried out fast. When a customer delivers us a train set, we have to be able to turn it around in five to 10 days.
That’s why, although our Centre of Competence for train brakes is in Munich, Germany, we’ve developed sophisticated service networks to provide extensive capabilities in each country we operate. For this reason, Knorr-Bremse has invested, and is still investing, in its UK Rail Systems operation at Melksham, Wiltshire.
Teams of engineers ensure that braking systems destined for the UK will meet UK Rail Standards and give world-class performance under UK conditions.
Systems that are in service need regular maintenance, which must be carried out economically and often to tight timescales. The Melksham facility has full-scale production lines, suitable for overhaul, repairs and servicing the full range of Knorr-Bremse products. These production lines mirror the manufacturing set up from our OE production sites, ultimately bringing the same technical capabilities and controls as close as possible to the customer.
Knorr-Bremse UK is a core part of the global Knorr-Bremse team. Approximately £5 million is being invested in the UK over the next year, with £2.2 million of that going on sustainability projects – we are on track to reduce our carbon footprint by 50 per cent by 2030.
We are also investing circa £2 million in manufacturing in 2026, including a new semi-automated production line, supporting our rail-services facilities, providing high levels of flexibility and supporting future growth. We’ve installed analytic tools and robotic process automation across the factory, increasing efficiencies, manufacturing transparency and customer performance.
We continually invest in our own team – taking on a combination of apprentices and graduates each year, which is particularly important to me as I started my career here as an apprentice 27 years ago. Perhaps, in another 27 years, some of this year’s intake will then be directors of the business, nurturing the next cohort of apprentices and trainees and ensuring customers get the service they need, when they need it.
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