Historic Doncaster railway works to close

The UK operation of Wabtec,at Doncaster, is to close. The shock news came this morning in an address to all staff at the historic facility in the town. Doncaster is synonymous with railway engineering, but now Wabtec, which operates out of a swathe of works buildings, has said it will quit its base in the Hexthorpe neighbourhood.

The shattering news was given to all staff this morning (7 February) by Tim Bentley, UK Group Managing Director & Regional Vice President. Local reports suggest that around 400 engineering jobs will be lost. Doncaster’s railway heritage is so profound, that the engineering facility in the town, established in 1853, is known simply as “The Works”.

Site could be lost to housing development

It has been the launching place of many of the icons of British railway design and operation. None more so than the rollout in 1923 of the world’s most famous steam locomotive, Flying Scotsman – an engineering marvel of its age. Although still contested, it was claimed to be the first steam locomotive to record a 100 miles per hour (160kph) turn of speed.