Bombardier could still win Thameslink stock contract

By PETER CAMPBELL FOR THE DAILY MAIL
Updated: 19:47 EDT, 19 July 2011

Trainbuilders Bombardier could still be awarded the contract to replace Thameslink’s rolling stock, saving 1,200 jobs, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Ministers at the Department of Transport have the power to bypass the current bidder Siemens and give the work to the 3,000 workers at Bombardier’s Derby factory, according to Chairman Colin Walton.

In an interview yesterday Walton said: ‘We are the second bidder, and that means that, if for any reason they did not want to work with them, we would step up as the new preferred bidder.

Trainbuilders Bombardier could still be awarded the contract to replace Thameslink¿s rolling stock, saving 1,200 jobs, the Daily Mail can reveal

‘The Department for Transport could say they don’t want to go any further with Siemens and they are completely entitled to do that. It is totally within their domain.’

He added: ‘No contract will be signed until the end of the year... so that avenue is open.’ Earlier this month it was announced the contract had controversially been awarded to German firm Siemens, forcing Bombardier to shed 1,200 jobs.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said at the time that he had no power to overturn the decision.

But Walton said questions in Parliament had shown Hammond did have the power to reconsider the bid and bypass Siemens. He said: ‘It now looks like the Secretary of State has a lot of questions to answer.’

He added: ‘I do find it completely incredible that nothing to do with socio-economics has been taken into account. They have had every option to do that in the invitation to tender.’

Walton was speaking as he was supposed to be on a South African trade trip with the Prime Minister, but was snubbed just 48-hours before the flight took off.

His absence meant he missed the chance to secure key contract there. He said: ‘It would have been a golden opportunity for the Government to demonstrate commitment to British exports. Is it the case that they no longer back British exports? I really hope that’s not the case, but I don’t know.’

He also revealed that the group assembled to work on the Thameslink project had been held back by the company, and if they did not get the job then many would be poached by overseas firms.

He said: ‘These are highly skilled workers with industry leading expertise. ‘We have been approached by foreign organisations from all around the world.

Whatever happens to these guys, the sad thing is these skills will be lost in any event to the UK.’