About 200 of the 5,000 employees being made redundant by MG Rover are to be offered jobs working on the UK railway system, according to the BBC.
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As in many countries with privatised rail systems, the UK has a track owning and maintenance company and a number of separate passenger and freight train operators.
The openings are with the track company – Network Rail reportedly says it wants to retrain 192 workers to fill vacancies in the Birmingham area and the electrical and engineering skills of Longbridge car workers will transfer well to the railways.
A BBC correspondent said there would be “plenty of work” because of a railway skills shortage in the Midlands and an increased maintenance programme.
The redundant car builders woul be retrained to work on the track, manage projects and repair signals.
According to the BBC, Network Rail deputy chief executive Iain Coucher described the Longbridge plant as a “pool of talent” and promised salaries on offer would be “competitive” if not comparable to those paid by MG Rover.
A jobs fair will be held to introduce Longbridge workers to the rail industry, the broadcaster added.
