THE OUTGOING chairman of Bombardier in the UK has warned that two potential orders are vital if the company's train-building works in Derby are to survive. The plant at Litchurch Lane is the last of its kind in the country, but it's running out of work.
Colin Walton is to retire in February, and his job is to be divided between two successors, one of whom is starting now.
Sir Neville Simms has been appointed non-executive chairman of Bombardier Transportation UK Limited. He was previously deputy chairman of International Power plc and chairman of the Building Research Establishment Trust.
When Mr Walton retires, his other duties – as chief country representative – will be taken over by Paul Roberts, who is being promoted from his present post as vice-president of Bombardier services in the UK.
But Mr Walton's two successors are taking over at a critical time. A project to electrify 57 CrossCountry Voyager units by inserting an additional pantograph car is now being considered by the Department for Transport, after more than two years of discussion behind the scenes.
A second order, for which tenders are being invited, is for 130 electric multiple unit vehicles for Southern, which are needed because delays in the Thameslink rolling stock procurement programme mean that 23 Class 377 units now in service with First Capital Connect will not be returned to Southern in December 2013, as had been originally planned.
Although the tender published for Southern's extra rolling stock cannot be specific about the manufacturer, there are high hopes that the choice will prove to be Derby-built Electrostars, because Southern already has a large fleet of them. If its new trains were bought elsewhere, creating a new and different fleet, this would have long-term implications for operation and maintenance, adding to the total cost.
But while these matters are in the balance, the future of the Bombardier works at Litchurch Lane remains in doubt, along with 1.500 jobs.
Mr Walton said: "The critical thing now is the workload, particularly in engineering and manufacturing. The Voyagers, and EMUs at Southern, are vital projects. You can have the best people in the country, but you need the workload."
As things stand, Litchurch Lane is set to stay open until 2014, when it is due to complete a current order for a new subsurface fleet for London Underground. At the moment, it has no work after that.