Ten trains have been ordered for the Elizabeth Line from Alstom in Derby.
The order, which is reported to be worth around £400 million, has come at a time when the site was running out of rolling stock orders and faced closure.
The Derby works became part of Alstom when that company acquired Bombardier Transportation in 2022, but trains have been built in the city since the nineteenth century. Manufacturing supports dozens of supply chain companies in the East Midlands, some of which had also been set to close along with the Alstom works.
Alstom’s UK managing director Nick Crossfield said: ‘We are delighted to now have a confirmed workload for Derby Litchurch Lane and our supply chain across the UK. The UK remains one of Alstom’s most important global markets.’
The trains are being funded by £220.5 million from the Department for Transport, while Transport for London is purchasing maintenance of the Aventra units until 2046.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: ‘Alongside TfL, I’ve been making the case to the Government that investment in new Elizabeth [Line] trains would give a vital boost to UK manufacturing, and support supply chains and jobs around the country. I’m delighted that Ministers have confirmed the funding for these state-of-the art trains.
‘The transformational Elizabeth Line is the fastest growing railway in the UK, with more than 350 million journeys made on the line since its opening, significantly helping to drive recovery from the pandemic and adding an estimated £42 billion to the UK economy.’
Labour’s shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said: ‘Labour has been calling for this deal to be done for months to save jobs and the future of Alstom.
‘It's extremely welcome that Transport for London have placed further orders with Alstom after concerted campaigning from Unite the Union and local Labour leaders.
‘We cannot go on like this. Labour will put an end to the cycle of end to boom and bust in our rail manufacturing sector, support the skilled jobs of the future and provide the stability communities like Derby deserve.’
Unite has also welcomed the news, but criticised government delays. General secretary Sharon Graham added: ‘Our members at Alstom will be breathing a huge sigh of relief but they should never have been in this position in the first place. The government were guilty of being asleep at the wheel. There is a huge need for new trains in this country, but Alstom was being starved of work.’