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£1bn Crossrail trains contract race open | |
(1 day later) | |
The government has opened competition for the £1bn contract to supply Crossrail trains. | |
The Derby-based Bombardier factory is up against German company Siemens, CAF of Spain and Hitachi of Japan. | |
The opening of the bidding process follows a controversial decision to give the £1.6bn contract for Thameslink trains to Siemens. | |
Bombardier, which lost out on that contract last year, then announced 1,400 job losses. | |
Transport Secretary Justine Greening said she was "keen to understand and communicate the benefit of this contract to the UK economy". | Transport Secretary Justine Greening said she was "keen to understand and communicate the benefit of this contract to the UK economy". |
Announcing the tendering of the contract, she said: "This is an important step in making Crossrail a reality for millions of passengers who will use it every week. | Announcing the tendering of the contract, she said: "This is an important step in making Crossrail a reality for millions of passengers who will use it every week. |
"Once these 60 trains are operational, they will carry an additional 1.5 million people, help the growth of the UK economy and create opportunities for new apprenticeships and jobs." | "Once these 60 trains are operational, they will carry an additional 1.5 million people, help the growth of the UK economy and create opportunities for new apprenticeships and jobs." |
She continued: "A number of outcomes from the government's review of public procurement have been reflected in this procurement, which could bring opportunities to UK businesses. | She continued: "A number of outcomes from the government's review of public procurement have been reflected in this procurement, which could bring opportunities to UK businesses. |
"This includes a 'responsible procurement' requirement that means bidders will need to set out how they will provide opportunities for training, apprenticeships and for small and medium-size businesses." | "This includes a 'responsible procurement' requirement that means bidders will need to set out how they will provide opportunities for training, apprenticeships and for small and medium-size businesses." |
Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle said: "It is vital that major public procurement such as this is used to provide a boost to British jobs and growth, particularly at a time of rising unemployment. | Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle said: "It is vital that major public procurement such as this is used to provide a boost to British jobs and growth, particularly at a time of rising unemployment. |
Thameslink 'fiasco' | Thameslink 'fiasco' |
"Today's decision proves that Labour has been right all along to argue that the government could have restarted the Thameslink procurement to include a requirement for local jobs and training." | "Today's decision proves that Labour has been right all along to argue that the government could have restarted the Thameslink procurement to include a requirement for local jobs and training." |
Bob Crow, leader of the RMT transport union, said: "We will be monitoring the Crossrail process closely for any repeat of the Thameslink fiasco. | Bob Crow, leader of the RMT transport union, said: "We will be monitoring the Crossrail process closely for any repeat of the Thameslink fiasco. |
"We expect engineering excellence and socio-economic factors to be top of the tendering criteria to give Bombardier a proper chance this time around, unlike the loaded Thameslink scandal." | "We expect engineering excellence and socio-economic factors to be top of the tendering criteria to give Bombardier a proper chance this time around, unlike the loaded Thameslink scandal." |
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