The company behind the huge East Yorkshire train-building plant has opened its recruitment process - with 12 apprenticeships the first stop on a 700-employee journey.
Siemens Mobility bosses welcomed first customer, London Transport Commissioner Mike Brown, to the Goole site and a neighbouring school to mark the occasion.
They met with students at Goole Academy to discuss the career opportunities, with a six month stint at an established manufacturing site in Vienna an added bonus for those signing up.
It was also revealed that University of Birmingham has been lined up to head up the rail innovation hub on the 104 acre plot.
Piccadilly Line underground trains will be the first rolling stock to come out of the sprawling new-build, part of a £1.5 billion contract, as the site currently awaits sign off on the detailed planning application.
The roles are for level three rail engineering technicians, and they will start in September, with discussions ongoing with colleges where they will be based in the first year. The second year will see day placements from UK Siemens Mobility traincare facilities taken, before a third year welcome to full-time work at the Goole plant, followed by a half year placement in Austria.
William Wilson, chief executive of Siemens Mobility, said: “We are delighted to announce we will be taking on our first apprentices for the pioneering Goole rail manufacturing development in September and that applications are now open.
“This will provide a fantastic opportunity for 12 aspiring engineers to launch their careers with us and become among the first members of the team at Goole when the facility becomes operational.
“Building on our extensive existing skills base, we are committed, as part of our investment in Goole, to creating a lasting legacy of rail-related skills for the local economy and the UK rail industry.”
He described the TfL contract - replacing 1970s stock - as “a key catalyst for this exciting investment”.
The £200 million investment sits on the Goole 36 enterprise zone, named after the M62 junction.
Outline planning consent was granted by East Riding Council, and subject to the detailed submissions, construction could start in early summer, beyond the Croda facility now rising from the ground, alongside Guardian Industries.
The rail innovation hub will focus on data analysis, with an agreement signed in recent weeks. Fundraising now begins, with the idea to let space to SMEs in the sector, with Siemens training on the top floor. It is to be built by the local authority, through Humber Local Enterprise Partnership.
Goole will not only build trains, but modify existing fleets too, with battery and hydrogen potential.
And Mr Wilson, who's father ran a Cosalt netting factory in Grimsby when he was a teenager, reiterated how a winning formula displayed with the offshore wind blade plant at Hull made Goole such an attractive proposition.
“It is close to the East Coast Main Line, in the middle of the country and follows our wind turbine facility in Hull. They are committed people, productive, and it is a winning formula that attracted us to the area. It has been so well received since initial inquiries.
Taking it all in, Mr Brown said: “It is fantastic to see the plans for the new Goole factory where our next generation of Piccadilly line trains will be built and to know that thousands of jobs are being created as a result. Steady and sustained investment in transport means more jobs and meeting local students who could well become the next generation of train engineers brings new to life how investment delivers skills and employment all over the country.”
He told how apprenticeships are something TfL is “something we’re extremely proud of” having taken on 9,000 apprentices in the past 11 years. “We are excited to see that at least 12 more aspiring engineers will be able to start their careers off the back of our order with Siemens Mobility.”
Siemens is bidding for the HS2 contract for rolling stock , with Mr Brown eyeing up further potential with TfL too.
To apply visit the website.
