Central Bombardier News

An MP has told ITV Central that at least one of the three civil servants who were suspended over the West Coast trains bid also worked on the bid which Derby train maker Bombardier lost.

The allegations were made in a rail magazine but tonight the Department for Transport was unable to confirm or deny this categorically.

• Business
• Bombardier
• West Coast Main Line

There is fresh hope today for workers at Derby-based trainmakers Bombardier who lost out on a lucrative Thameslink deal to rival bidders Siemens.

Local MP Chris Williamson was told in Parliament that the Department for Transport would consider other options if the German firm were unable to fulfil the contract on time.

• UK
• Bombardier
• Derby

Following the government's mix-up yesterday over the awarding of the franchise for the West Coast mainline, there are calls today for reviews of other transport contracts.

Pauline Latham, MP for Mid-Derbyshire, has asked the Secretary of State for Transport to pause the process on the contract for the manufacture and maintenance of the stock for the Thameslink programme, after Derby-based firm Bombardier missed out on the deal.

“I have been saying for well over a year that I believed the bidding processes used by the Department of Transport are flawed and today’s decision by the Government clearly shows that the Department is not fit for purpose...once more reviews have taken place into the Department’s practices, I am sure more mistakes will be uncovered and an even bigger bill will be handed to taxpayers."

"I am extremely angry that Bombardier was not awarded the contract and as I said at the time, I had serious concerns around the fact that the bogie design in the Siemens proposal had not been properly tested."

• Politics
• Derby
• Bombardier

East Midlands MEP, Glenis Willmott backs Bombardier’s CrossRail bid and calls for the Government to do more to support it.

• UK
• Bombardier
• Derby

"Well it's obviously good news that they're on the short list but clearly it's absolutely vital though that Bombardier win this contract because without it it will potentially spell the end of British train manufacturing.

"Let's not forget as a result of the Thameslink decision 1400 jobs have been lost not to mention the countless thousands other jobs in the supply chain as a consequence of those going."

"So it's absolutely vital that we win this contract for Derby and for British manufacuring, it's really really important and I hope tht the government make the right decision this time, they made the wrong call over Thameslink they need to do the right thing on this occassion".

CHRIS WILLIAMSON MP, DERBY NORTH

• UK
• Bombardier
• Derby

Derby North MP Chris Williamson has welcomed the tender process for Crossrail.

Bombardier is one of four train companies invited to tender for the billion pound project.

The MP says he hopes the government will see sense and award the deal to Bombardier to secure jobs in the Midlands and beyond

• UK
• Chris Williamson MP
• Derby North

"There is some real interest from key suppliers, including Bombardier, in this project and today was about saying to them that we have a procurement approach that of course looks at value for money...

but it's also important for us as a government to communicate with those companies what our broader agenda is around skills, apprenticeships, jobs and growth."

JUSTINE GREENING MP, TRANSPORT SECRETARY

• UK
• Bombardier
• Derby