Hundreds of rail jobs could go in site shutdown

Hundreds of jobs are at risk in Doncaster after a business announced plans to close its site.

Rail maintenance firm Wabtec, which employs about 300 people at its factory in Hexthorpe, said it had entered a period of consultation with staff over the proposals.

The US-owned company said the decision was made after a "comprehensive review of the product lines and cost challenges" at the depot.

It added that several options were under consideration, including moving to another UK location or relocating to a nearby site.

Doncaster Central MP Sally Jameson said the council was "supporting the company's leadership with suitable site options in the city".

The BBC has contacted the local authority for comment.

The workers in Doncaster maintain and repair rail stock, including carriages and wheels.

Jameson described the announcement as "a continuation of sad news at the site following voluntary redundancies in 2020".

Should it close, Wabtec said it would complete its current projects, "then withdraw from the vehicle maintenance market in the UK and close the site".

A company spokesperson said work at the Doncaster site would continue "well into 2026".

It said a consultation would begin in the coming weeks.

"Work will continue on all current projects at the Doncaster site, and we remain focused on delivering our customer commitments."

Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones previously described the city as a "national rail hub", with more than 50 rail-related companies based there, according to the council.

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