Siemens concluded its takeover of Invensys last week.

Invensys Rail was acquired for £1.8 billion ($2.8bn) by the German train maker after the takeover was approved by the European Commission last month.

The Chippenham rail arm provides signalling, communication and control systems to rail networks worldwide.

Chippenham is now to become the main UK base for Siemens Rail Automation and a regional manufacturing and research and development centre for Siemens Rail Automation globally.

Nick Crossfield, who has been chief executive of Invensys Rail Systems since June 2010, has become head of Siemens Rail Automation in the UK and will be based at the Invensys Rail Systems facility at Langley Park.

He said: "I am relishing the challenge of leading the strengthened Siemens Rail Automation business in the UK, building on the collective history of Siemens and Invensys Rail as innovators, and harnessing the talents of our highly skilled and motivated people to create a unified organisation with a shared future able to serve the UK market with commitment and confidence."

Mr Crossfield has more than 16 years experience in senior positions in a range of international organisations such as Corus and Bayer AG. Before Invensys Rail, he was a director at Network Rail responsible for a major refocusing of commercial operations.

Gordon Wakeford, head of the Infrastructure and Cites Sector for Siemens in the UK, said: “Nick Crossfield’s extensive experience in successfully managing change in large organisations will be a great asset.”

Ahead of the takeover, the two companies had already been collaborating on the automation of the 21-kilometre tunnel for London’s Crossrail project.

Roland Busch, CEO of the Siemens Infrastructure and Cities Sector and member of the managing board of Siemens AG, said: “We are combining two of the strongest organisations for the rail automation market of the future. This will create a truly global player.”

Invensys Rail was originally part of the giant Westinghouse industrial group, which at one time employed thousands of people on its large site close to the town’s railway station.