Siemens Mobility has announced a £100m R&D centre in the UK while the Chancellor has promised a £360m package to boost British manufacturing in a series of pre-Budget announcements.

The Siemens facility will employ around 800 workers to build next-generation signalling and control systems for Britain’s rail systems. It will replace the firm’s existing factory in Chippenham, Wiltshire, in 2026 and all its staff will be transferred.

The firm has long been a major contractor for building UK trains. In recent years, this has included trains for the London Underground as well as the Great Northern franchise.

The company’s existing Chippenham factory has been producing equipment for rail infrastructure since the 19th century.

Rob Morris, joint CEO of Siemens Mobility UK & Ireland, said: “Siemens Mobility’s Chippenham site, along with our 30 sites across the country, has been transforming rail, travel and transport in Britain – and it will continue to do so with cloud-based rail technology...