THE DELAY in completing the £1.6 billion Thameslink rolling stock contract with Siemens has cost taxpayers at least £8 million, according to a Parliamentary answer. This disclosed that one legal firm alone was paid more than £5 million. The RMT union said the costs were a 'national disgrace'.
The figures were confirmed in an answer to Derby MP Chris Williamson. He has been campaigning in favour of runners-up Bombardier, who run the last British train-building plant in the city.
Transport minister Simon Burns said the expenditure had been incurred since October 2011 – which was four months after Siemens had been named as preferred bidder. Up to September 2011 the DfT had already spent £20 million.
The German company has now been confirmed as the winner, although the contract cannot be signed until a ten-day 'standstill' period comes to an end next week.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow promised that his union would continue to fight for British train builders.
He said: "The scandal of the Thameslink stitch up continues with the Government now forced to admit that their betrayal of UK train building has been financed by the British taxpayer to the tune of £8 million in largesse to the architects of this debacle. That is a national disgrace and those responsible should be hauled to account. There must be no repeat over the Crossrail fleet contract."