£188million lifeline for struggling train maker Bombardier as it strikes deal with rail operator

  • Bombardier hopes deal with Southern will save some of the 1,400 engineering and ancilliary jobs under threat

By
Roger Baird

Last updated at 12:56 AM on 29th December 2011

Britain’s last remaining train factory has been thrown a lifeline after winning a £188million contract to build 130 carriages.

It is hoped the deal struck by Bombardier with rail operator Southern will save some of the 1,400 engineering and ancilliary jobs that are under threat.

Bombardier, which is based in Derby, has been in trouble since June when it lost out to a German rival for a £1.4billion contract to make trains to run on the Thameslink line. The 172-year-old former British Rail factory employs 3,000.

A train being built inside the Bombardier factory in Derby

A train being built inside the Bombardier factory in Derby

The Department of Transport was heavily criticised for preferring Siemens over Bombardier and the row prompted the Government to look at the issue of rail procurement.

The new contract with Southern – to build carriages for the rail operator to run commuter trains between Victoria and stations in Surrey, Kent and Sussex – will be part-funded by the Government with an £80million subsidy.

Funding for the deal came from money made available following last month’s Autumn Statement by Chancellor George Osborne.

A
source close to the company said: ‘Every contract we win is a
significant step to us retaining our commitment to continue to make
trains in the UK.’

The new contract with Southern will be part-funded by the Government with an £80m subsidy

The new contract with Southern will be part-funded by the Government with an £80m subsidy

Bombardier said it will begin production in the second half of next year, with the carriages expected to start coming into service from December 2013.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: ‘This deal lands Bombardier with a crucial order and I look forward to Bombardier workers in Derby being among the winners.’

But Bombardier has made clear it needs to win two additional contracts, each worth as much as £1billion, in order to safeguard the jobs that are at risk in Derby.

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It would be interesting to find out, exactly how much Tax payers money has been sunk into the railways since the so called privatisation, and how much it used to be when it was BR and all its Regions? It seems that a lot of the companies paid a few millions £s then got a hand out of even more Millions as well as making a profit? Any Company wanting to ”Improve” the service is automatically given money by the Government? Oh, how the shareholders must feel on a no lose situation like that?

£188million FOR 130 carriages, doesn’t that seem EXCESSIVE?
– The Voice Of Reason , Newcastle UK, 29/12/2011 02:56…………………………………..
It might sound expensive but 6 years ago carriages cost a million each. The motor carriages do have very expensive electric motors as well.

£188million FOR 130 carriages, doesn’t that seem EXCESSIVE?

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