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Siemens Thameslink trains contract confirmed Siemens Thameslink trains contract confirmed
(3 months later)
Britain's last remaining train factory has been dealt a blow after the government sealed a contract with Germany's Siemens to build 1,140 train carriages for the cross-London Thameslink rail route.Britain's last remaining train factory has been dealt a blow after the government sealed a contract with Germany's Siemens to build 1,140 train carriages for the cross-London Thameslink rail route.
The £1.4bn deal has been confirmed more than three years behind schedule, and two years after Siemens was chosen ahead of the Bombardier factory in Derby to deliver the new rolling stock. The decision to snub the plant was followed by 1,000 job losses at the site.The £1.4bn deal has been confirmed more than three years behind schedule, and two years after Siemens was chosen ahead of the Bombardier factory in Derby to deliver the new rolling stock. The decision to snub the plant was followed by 1,000 job losses at the site.
Both the Department for Transport and Siemens claimed that the deal would create up to 2,000 jobs in the UK – via the supply chain, assembly, construction of depots and maintenance.Both the Department for Transport and Siemens claimed that the deal would create up to 2,000 jobs in the UK – via the supply chain, assembly, construction of depots and maintenance.
The rolling stock deal forms part of a £6bn upgrade to the Thameslink rail network, which will see longer trains passing through the capital after congested tracks are altered and rebuilt.The rolling stock deal forms part of a £6bn upgrade to the Thameslink rail network, which will see longer trains passing through the capital after congested tracks are altered and rebuilt.
The transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said: "This contract is a boost for UK Plc, delivering jobs and injecting crucial investment into the rail industry."The transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said: "This contract is a boost for UK Plc, delivering jobs and injecting crucial investment into the rail industry."
The deal will see new model Desiro City trains come into service from early 2016. Steve Scrimshaw, UK managing director at Siemens Rail Systems, said the deal "reaffirms Siemens' commitment to ongoing development and continued innovation in the UK rail industry."The deal will see new model Desiro City trains come into service from early 2016. Steve Scrimshaw, UK managing director at Siemens Rail Systems, said the deal "reaffirms Siemens' commitment to ongoing development and continued innovation in the UK rail industry."
A recent National Audit Office report warned that the delay in the procurement process "raised questions about the feasibility of delivering the whole programme by 2018", with implications for franchising and planned use of existing trains elsewhere on the rail network.A recent National Audit Office report warned that the delay in the procurement process "raised questions about the feasibility of delivering the whole programme by 2018", with implications for franchising and planned use of existing trains elsewhere on the rail network.
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