Alstom winds down
Alstom has given formal notice to the government that it has started mothballing its Derby site at Litchurch Lane after talks to obtain new work failed, at least in the shorter term. As a result thousands of jobs are at risk, including many in the supply chain. Alstom said the lack of a ‘meaningful workload’ until mid-2026 was ‘unsustainable’. Concerns also continue about the future of the Hitachi train-building plant in County Durham, again because orders for new trains have dried up.
Strike warning
Train operators in England are warning of severe disruption in the next few days as ASLEF drivers stage new strikes in their continuing dispute over pay. The walkouts are planned for Friday, Saturday and Monday at various operators, but services will be affected on other days by an overtime ban from Thursday to Saturday and again on Monday and Tuesday.
Landslip line must close for two weeks
The railway between Tonbridge and Redhill will be closed for at least two weeks, after an embankment which has caused problems in the past moved again. Services were cancelled over the Easter weekend while emergency repairs were carried out, but Network Rail said an assessment has revealed the need for more work.