Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 14, Siemens Mobility has officially opened a £6m ($6.9m) Multi-Functional Centre in Northampton, UK, aimed at supporting passenger train modifications and upgrades. Lucy Rigby KC MP, Member of Parliament for Northampton North, attended the inauguration.

The initial project at the site will focus on refurbishing East Midlands Railway’s Class 360 trains.

The facility is expected to expand Siemens Mobility’s capacity for train refurbishment and generate new employment opportunities in the region. Rigby said: “It was a privilege to officially open Siemens Mobility’s state-of-the-art Multi-Functional Centre and meet the highly skilled team working to enhance passenger journeys.”

The Northampton centre will focus on interior upgrades, including seating, toilets, luggage storage, and charging ports. Its first project will refurbish East Midland Railway’s (EMR) Class 360 trains. Siemens Mobility reports that the centre’s construction has achieved a 17% net gain for biodiversity.

In addition to the facility, Siemens Mobility has deployed a mobile team of technicians capable of carrying out modifications across the country. The team recently installed Variable Rate Sanding technology on a third-party fleet to improve braking performance in slippery conditions. The next project will upgrade train data recorders (OTDR), introducing mobile connectivity to third-party fleets and enhancing operational reliability.

Sambit Banerjee, Siemens Mobility joint CEO and managing director for rolling stock and customer services, said: “Our new Multi-Functional Centre at Kings Heath is the latest example of Siemens Mobility’s investment in the UK and another step forward for the rail industry. This £6m investment expands our capacity to deliver vital upgrades for passenger trains and creates 30 additional jobs – all part of our mission to transform rail travel for passengers across the country.”

Siemens Mobility’s recent UK investments total approximately £340m. This includes up to £240m for the Rail Village in Goole, Yorkshire, where the company is assembling new Piccadilly line trains for Transport for London and plans to produce battery bi-mode trains. A further £100m is being invested in Chippenham, Wiltshire, where the Rail Technology Centre is under development.

The company has also opened new distribution and logistics centres in Kettering and Goole to improve material delivery efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of logistics operations.

Recently, Siemens Mobility presented its Velaro high-speed train to the Egyptian public for the first time at TransMEA 2025 in Cairo, a key transportation and logistics event for the Middle East and Africa.

The Northampton Multi-Functional Centre, combined with Siemens Mobility’s broader network of UK facilities and mobile capabilities, reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to enhancing rail infrastructure, improving passenger experience, and supporting sustainable operations while creating employment and fostering regional economic growth.

This development positions Siemens Mobility as a leading contributor to train refurbishment, upgrades, and technological advancement in the UK rail sector.