Alstom is set to create more than 100 new jobs following a major upgrade to its Crewe Works facility, aimed at overhauling and repairing components for trains across the UK.

The company has launched a new area dedicated to refurbishing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units, which regulate air temperature, humidity, and quality on board trains. The multimillion-pound investment has already more than doubled the site’s capacity, increasing production from 16 units per week to 35, with plans to reach 50 units per week by January following further expansion.

Seventy skilled roles have already been created to operate the facility, with the total expected to rise to 110 in the new year. Currently, staff are refurbishing HVAC units for Class 334, Class 375, Class 377, Class 387, and Class 390 trains, with work on Class 222 and Class 378 trains scheduled for 2026.

Steve Harvey, services director at Alstom, said: “This expansion not only future-proofs our operations, but also enables us to better serve customers across the country with enhanced capacity and capability. Crewe has played a pivotal role in Britain's rail history and this latest development will ensure it remains at the heart of train maintenance in the UK.”

Crewe Works, originally opened by the Grand Junction Railway in 1843 to build steam locomotives, has long been central to the town’s industrial development. Today, the site also hosts Alstom’s UK Centre of Excellence for bogie, wheel, and traction motor overhaul, including bogies for HS2 rolling stock — the first to be manufactured in the UK in almost two decades.

Alongside the new HVAC facility, the factory now features refurbished office space designed to complement its industrial heritage. The upgraded areas were officially opened on 28 October.

Image: Alstom