The former Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck rail depot has a new owner: Spanish train manufacturer CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A.) has taken over the site from the Ruhr Regional Association (RVR) to build a modern rail workshop there. On January 11, 2023, RVR Regional Director Karola Geiß-Netthöfel handed over the depot to Marcus Brüning, Director of CAF Deutschland GmbH.
"With the former rail depot, we have found an ideal site in terms of location, size and accessibility to build a digital workshop for the future in NRW. As a result, we are already creating more than 30 new, stable and long-term jobs at the Gelsenkirchen site in the first expansion phase. In addition, the large plot offers opportunities to expand the workshop in the future and potential for further business development in NRW," says Marcus Brüning, explaining the purchase decision.
Up to 2028, CAF will supply Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) with 63 battery electric regional trains of the type Civity BEMU, which will replace the old diesel vehicles in VRR's local transport system. At the same time, CAF will take over maintenance of the climate-friendly electric trains – for their entire life cycle of around 30 years. "With this sale, we have succeeded in reactivating an old industrial site by attracting a new forward-looking company," says a delighted Karola Geiß-Netthöfel. A strong symbol both for the business location and for the mobility turnaround.
