Gibson’s Engineering, a locally established Glasgow firm, has won a contract with Transport for London (TfL). The company, formed to revive the historic St Rollox railway works, also known as the Caley Works, has signed a deal with TfL for the refurbishment of engineering wagons. It is expected to create up to 40 skilled jobs and re-establish St Rollox as an active engineering base, with implications for both the passenger and freight sectors.
The revival of Scotland’s last traditional railway works has taken a significant step forward, as Gibson’s Engineering confirms a major rolling stock refurbishment contract with Transport for London. The two-year deal will see 23 engineering wagons overhauled at the former St Rollox Works in Glasgow, a site known historically as “The Caley.” The contract is the first large-scale commission for Gibson’s Engineering since the site was acquired by Scottish entrepreneur David Moulsdale in 2021.
Refurbishment supports infrastructure and freight maintenance
The 23 wagons form part of TfL’s engineering fleet, used across the London Underground and associated infrastructure works. Their refurbishment in Glasgow highlights the growing demand for domestic capability in fleet support and asset renewal. St Rollox historically has been the place to go for renewal of rolling stock operating in critical maintenance and construction environments.
“This is a significant milestone for us as a business and for the future of St Rollox,” said Fraser Gibson, Managing Director of Gibson’s Engineering. “We’re pleased to be restoring high-quality engineering work to the site and contributing to the resilience of rail operations in the UK.”
Strategic potential for freight and logistics support
While the TfL wagons are primarily tied to infrastructure roles, the reactivation of St Rollox opens the door to wider freight-related engineering opportunities. The site, which at its peak of operations spanned 26 acres, retains its heavy engineering capability. The Caley is positioned to take on additional rolling stock work in future, including further refurbishment of freight wagons, in better condition than the rake in the video (below).
Gibson’s has indicated an ambition to expand into intermodal, aggregate and bulk freight wagon maintenance. The facility is already rail-connected and located within proximity to key freight corridors, including the West Coast Main Line and routes linking central Scotland with the UK ports network.
St Rollox reclaims industrial relevance
The St Rollox Works closed in 2019 under previous ownership, amid criticism over the loss of skilled employment and heritage infrastructure. Its subsequent acquisition and planned reopening under private investment was seen as a good example of industrial reinvention, with public and political support across Scotland.
This latest contract with TfL adds momentum to those ambitions. It positions Gibson’s Engineering as a viable supplier in the UK rail supply chain. It also represents an opportunity to strengthen domestic rail engineering resilience, at a time when supply chain reliability and low-carbon industrial policy are high on the national agenda.
St Rollox in British Railways days. Image: © Phil Richards
Future bids and broader GBR strategy
The company has confirmed it is actively exploring further opportunities with freight operators and government-backed programmes, including Network Rail’s infrastructure upgrade cycles and Great British Railways’ forthcoming rolling stock strategies. With additional capacity at the site, Gibson’s Engineering is targeting both public sector and private freight clients.
The news is timely for a shift toward reinvesting in UK-based rail capability. For the wider rail freight sector, the renewed operational status of a facility like St Rollox could play a role in reducing downtime, enhancing wagon availability, and improving long-term resilience across the national network.