Canadian export deal creates 20 jobs at Leeds manufacturer William Cook Rail

Rail industry manufacturer William Cook Rail has created a raft of jobs as it begins work on a multi-million pound export order.

The family-owned company, based in Leeds, took on 20 new engineering staff to fulfill an order for ultra-high specification cast steel components to be shipped to Canada.

William Cook Rail is working on the order for train maker Alstom, which is developing Citadis Spirit light rail vehicles for service in Ottawa.

The firm said the the structural parts are among the most complex cast steel components ever made. They will be showcased at the International Trade Fair for Transport Technology this month.

Following the recent recruitment drive, William Cook Rail now employs 180 people at its factory in Leeds.

Chairman Sir Andrew Cook said: “We are proud to be flying the flag for world-class UK manufacturing and securing highly skilled jobs in the North of England.

“This represents a major order for our new £15m rail plant in Leeds and we are gearing up for an increase in activity as the year progresses.”

Alstom’s Citadis Spirit vehicles are designed for high capacity commuter lines and operation in the most extreme weather conditions.

The French multinational is supplying 72 trains for use in Ottawa and 61 in Toronto. More than 2,500 of the trains have been sold to 50 cities across 20 countries to date.