Rail component business to double capacity with move to larger premises

A rail component supplier is investing £6.5m in expanding its industrial footprint in Doncaster and Manchester to meet increasing customer demand.

Lucchini Unipart Rail (LUR) is a joint venture between Lucchini RS Group and Unipart, supplying wheelsets, gearboxes, and bogies for the UK rail industry.

In Doncaster, the Bogie Service Facility at Hexthorpe Road employs 90 people and will relocate to a 102,000 sq ft site in Warmsworth, which is double the size of its current site four miles away.

This move will increase capacity and allow LUR to meet growing demand for the overhaul and refurbishment of bogies used in passenger rolling stock, freight wagons, locomotives, and light rail vehicles.

In Manchester, LUR is relocating its Wheelset Repair Facility from Chadderton to a larger 63,000 sq ft site at Trafford Park, closer to its existing 118,000 sq ft head office and manufacturing facility for wheel and axle machining, and wheelset overhaul.

The 20,000 sq ft Gearbox Service Facility also located in Trafford Park will remain at its current location. The move will improve coordination and optimise the company’s operations in the region.

With both sites having a manufacturing legacy of over 100 years in the rail industry, both Lucchini RS Group and Unipart remain active shareholders, playing a role in LUR’s future growth.

The two new facilities in Doncaster and Manchester are currently being refurbished and fitted-out and are aiming to be fully operational by autumn 2025.

This expansion is part of LUR’s long-term growth and service strategy, ensuring the business remains agile and responsive to evolving market needs.

Today, the company employs 380 people across its Doncaster and Manchester sites, and this latest investment will further strengthen its presence in the South Yorkshire and North West regions.

LUR says its decision to expand its footprint is driven by increased customer demand and the need for additional space to optimise output.

Source: The Business Desk   -  Miran Rahman.