300 jobs set to go at historic Loughborough manufacturer

Brush Traction, the Loughborough firm which makes locomotives and power systems for trains, looks set to close with the loss of 300 jobs.

Brush, which has been in the Leicestershire town for almost 160 years, is owned by US firm Wabtec, which says the site is “no longer sustainable”.

The iconic plant, known locally as the Falcon Works, was established in 1865 to build steam locomotives.

Unite union regional officer Lakhy Mahal said: “Wabtec’s announcement that it is planning to shut the historic Falcon Works is a crushing blow to the workforce and to the local area.

“Unite is in consultation with the company and is fighting to ensure that our members are offered alternative employment at other sites, if that is what they want.

“If it isn’t, we will be negotiating for them to receive the best redundancy packages possible.

“Unite will also be putting together a programme of support for members to help them navigate what is an extremely difficult time.”

Wabtec told Rail Busines UK: “Decisions like this are never easy but over the past few years, our site has experienced reduced volume and this decrease is no longer sustainable.

“The decision to close the plant would help to simplify and optimise the company’s manufacturing footprint in today’s cyclical environment, as well as better position Wabtec for success.”