Spanish rail company CAF (www.caf.net) is opening a new facility in Greater Manchester as part of its expansion in the region; as a result, it is looking to recruit 85 people for technician roles.

CAF manufactures rolling stock and provides maintenance and support services, along with electrification and signalling solutions.

Selected by Northern and TransPennine Express to supply and maintain new rolling stock for routes in the North West (with a £230 million contract), CAF established its UK headquarters in Manchester.

The new 47,000ft² facility in Stockport will operate as its central stores.

The company’s continued investment in Greater Manchester is testament to the opportunities in the sector from HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail rolling out over the next 15 years, with requirements for infrastructure, rolling stock, digital rail and signalling.

Greater Manchester is also seen as the ideal location for transport-related businesses looking to ‘lightweight’ their vehicles, due to its strengths in light alloys, composites, graphene and technical textiles.