British rail-link trains look set to be built in Germany

Bombardier Transportation, which builds trains in Derby, had been hoping to win the multi- billion-pound contract to build and maintain 1,200 new carriages for the Thameslink route.

But instead, Transport Minister Theresa Villiers announced that a consortium led by Germany’s Siemens had beaten the firm to become preferred bidder for the contract.

Siemens said the move would create 2,000 new jobs in the UK and ease overcrowding on the Thameslink route by bringing in 1,750-passenger electric commuter trains from 2015.

Labour said it was “a black day” for Bombardier which recently lost out to Hitachi of Japan on another big UK contract – for inter-city trains.

The Unite union called the announcement “a hammer blow for Derby and British manufacturing”, while Bombardier said it was “extremely disappointed” it had not been selected.

Subject to the final contract being signed, the carriages will be built at Siemens’ plant at Krefeld near Dusseldorf in Germany.

The award to Siemens will mean 300 extra jobs at its factory in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear.

There will also be two new maintenance depots built – one in West Sussex and the other in north London.

Mrs Villiers stressed that while she understood Bombardier’s disappointment, the Siemens bid had been “the better deal” and would provide passengers with “modern, greener and more-reliable trains”.

She went on: “This is a major step forward for the long-awaited Thameslink programme which will make life better for thousands of commuters.

“Today’s announcement is further proof of the Government’s commitment to investing in Britain’s future.

“Despite the pressure on budgets resulting from the need to tackle the deficit, we remain fully committed to the Thameslink upgrade which will dramatically improve journeys for commuters and boost the economy.”

But Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle said: “The reality is that these new trains will be manufactured abroad.

“The Tory-led Government’s claim to want to support the British manufacturing that is vital for jobs and growth is exposed today as nothing more than a sham.”

Mark Young, regional co-ordinating officer for the Unite union, said: “The Government’s decision to award this contract to a consortium which does not have British manufacturing and British job creation as its prime focus is absolutely disgraceful.”

TUC deputy general secretary Frances O’Grady said the decision was “a devastating blow for Bombardier and its workforce but also for Derby and the wider UK economy”.