The production lines are stopping at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane factory in Derby, with the train-manufacturing site set to be mothballed.
It puts 3,000 jobs on the line following 10 months of discussions with Government in an attempt to secure the facility’s future. The loss of work and jobs in Derby will also have a knock-on effect on the local and national supply chain, where it supports 15,000 jobs.
It comes as the factory faces a significant 18-month production gap and HS2 delays, meaning it cannot continue functioning in the interim.
Alstom said in a statement: “We have worked constructively with the government on securing a sustainable future for Derby Litchurch Lane, but after 10 months of discussions we have run out of time, and the production lines have stopped. We will now consult with our staff, with trades unions and with our UK supply chain to provide as much certainty as we can.”
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “The uncertainty at Alstom has dragged on for too long and the government need to act urgently to safeguard production at Litchurch Lane.
“We know that as a country we have new rolling stock needs that can be met by the highly skilled workforce we have in Derby and its wider regional supply chain – any inability to iron out the gaps in orders would represent a significant failure of national planning and have detrimental knock-on effects in Derby, Derbyshire and across the country.
“This can’t be allowed to happen – it is imperative government intervention is stepped up so we can get a workable resolution that protects jobs in the sector now and for the long-term future.”
