Firefighters at Humberside Fire and Rescue Service are set to benefit from a major enhancement to their training capabilities, following the donation of a full-size passenger train carriage by Siemens.
The carriage, which is now located at Immingham West Fire Station, will be used to deliver realistic, hands-on training for incidents involving the rail network.
The donation came about through professional networking between Siemens and Assistant Chief Officer, Matt Sutcliffe, resulting in a unique opportunity to strengthen our emergency response and preparedness.
Chief Fire Officer, Phil Shillito said, “We are incredibly grateful to Siemens for this generous donation. The addition of a real train carriage at our training site is a rare and valuable asset.
“It will significantly enhance the realism of our training scenarios and better prepare our firefighters for emergencies involving rail transport.
"This is not something that’s often available to fire and rescue services and it will make a real difference in our ability to protect the communities we serve.”
The passenger carriage will be used to simulate a wide range of emergency situations, from casualty extractions to fire suppression and hazardous material incidents, offering crews vital experience in an authentic, controlled environment.
David Harris, Siemens Mobility Construction Project Manager, said: “We’re delighted to have teamed up with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service on this project. It’s not a simple task to move a 23m-long train carriage, so we’ve worked collaboratively with the fire service to make it possible.
“After identifying a suitable location within the training centre site, we supported the installation of sleepers, rails and ballast, before liaising with a haulage company to arrange transportation and siting of the carriage, around the fire service’s busy training schedule.
“It’s fantastic to know the carriage will also be used by young people. Siemens is committed to supporting young people into work, and we’re involved with numerous apprenticeship and education programs, so this aligns with our values.”
The partnership demonstrates how industry connections and shared goals can lead to practical outcomes that benefit public safety and emergency preparedness across the region.