Miriam Cates, the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, recently visited the headquarters of Linbrooke Rail at Chapeltown in Sheffield, where she learned about techniques the company is using to reduce costs for the taxpayer on the Midland Mainline and its wider work in training and supporting the local economy.

Linbrooke Rail is a leading contractor for the railway and is providing advanced signalling, power, and communications solutions across Britain’s railway network. Miriam Cates’ visit was organised as part of the Railway Industry Association (RIA) Rail Fellowship Programme.

Linbrooke Rail’s innovative technology is well known within the rail industry, and the solutions it has developed have been instrumental in reducing costs during the resignalling of the Midland Mainline. Sheffield has a longstanding experience in the rail industry. And the company is proud that the technology was developed in Sheffield, where the company was founded.

During her visit, Cates met Jason Garside, Group Head of Recruitment, who is a former Marine and now leads a scheme within Linbrooke that supports people with ties to the Armed Forces. One-tenth of Linbrooke’s workforce has links to the military, which reflects Linbrooke’s dedication to giving employment to people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Cates also met staff at Linbrooke’s distribution centre where she found out how the company’s emphasis on training and employing local talent, ensured that the community benefits from job opportunities and skills development in the rail sector. She also welcomed the company’s commitment to empowering the local workforce as she sits on parliament’s Education Committee, and has spoken of the need to create sustainable employment opportunities for young people.

Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said, “It was a privilege to visit Linbrooke Rail in Chapeltown and witness the impressive techniques they employ to reduce costs for the taxpayer on the Midland Mainline.

“I was particularly impressed by the commitment shown to the local community, with 10% of the workforce having connections to the Armed Forces. Linbrooke’s dedication to training and employing locals is commendable and contributes significantly to the economy of our region.”

Ruby Sampson, Public Affairs & PR Executive at the Railway Industry Association (RIA), commented, “We are delighted to have Miriam Cates MP participate in the RIA Rail Fellowship Programme and visit Linbrooke Rail in Chapeltown. The programme aims to foster closer ties between parliamentarians and the rail supply sector, enabling them to gain valuable insights into the industry.

“We thank Linbrooke for hosting and demonstrating to Miriam Cates their dedication to reducing costs on the rail network through innovation while supporting and training the local workforce. They exemplify the reason we run the programme.”

Ben Lynch, Director, Linbrooke Rail, said “It was a pleasure to meet Miriam and her team and to welcome RIA colleagues to Linbrooke. We must highlight to the politicians the importance of rail works we are undertaking to renew life-expired assets.

“Our West Hampstead Life Extension programme in the Eastern region has an incredible impact on cost saving for taxpayers and sustainably benefits the industry. The cash that we all inject into British Railway can be saved if companies like Linbrooke are given an opportunity to regenerate life-expired assets giving them a new lease of life to keep the British Railway open for passengers to enjoy.”