Published Date: Feb 21st, 2020
Fife Council welcomed TALGO UK, which continues to make plans for a major train manufacturing plant at Longannet, at a community event at Kincardine Community Centre, on 19 February. At the event, TALGO UK showcased one of TALGO’s 250kph coaches, featuring world-beating and unique ‘Rodal’ technology.
In October 2019 TALGO, together with Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland, signed a jointly agreed framework to establish Longannet, Fife as a manufacturing base for TALGO UK.
Fife Council Co-Leader, Cllr David Ross, said: “The Longannet site is nationally significant and critically important locally. TALGO UK's plans build upon the work of the Longannet Taskforce, whose focus has been to support the wider regeneration of the area following the power station’s closure in 2016.
"This location, which has driven past industrial revolutions, will once again be a catalyst towards business activity that drives a renewed innovation-led economy.”
TALGO UK intends to reinvigorate the UK supply-chain, and source from it wherever possible. TALGO's 'True Manufacturing' approach means that, instead of assembling from kits of parts from overseas, the UK supply-chain is used. This protects more jobs, and keeps more money in the local, regional and national economies of the UK.
TALGO UK is keen to ensure that the benefits of TALGO’s unique technology is better appreciated, and that local people are aware of the potential opportunities in the area.
Fife Council Co-Leader, Cllr David Alexander, added: “Fife Council welcomes this latest step forward in creating employment and economic opportunities in Kincardine and beyond.
“Approximately 74 hectares of the site are available for investors into the Kingdom and will boost the economy within South and West Fife and across the wider region.
“Around 1,000 highly skilled jobs are expected to be created at Longannet. The Longannet site and its infrastructure connections will also give rise to significant opportunities across the wider area.”
The plans to regenerate the site of Scotland’s last coal-fuelled power station also support the Fife Council’s wider aim of reducing carbon emissions.
TALGO is bringing its technology to the UK, as part of a programme to explain new technologies, to transfer knowledge to the UK and to boost UK domestic capacity for Research and Development.