Unions seek answers over Bombardier contract loss
Bombardier trade unions Unite and RMT have written to the transport secretary to demand answers to the manufacturer's exclusion from the £1.5bn Thameslink project.
The two unions have written to Philip Hammond in defence of the Derby trainmaker, which has said it could axe up to 1,400 jobs after losing out to German manufacturer Siemens on the deal.
When the decision to employ Siemens was made, the government said the Germany-based had been chosen based on the value for money it returned for taxpayers.
However, the unions are also seeking confirmation that the government has awarded preferred bidder status to a consortium which has not yet developed a crucial component called a "bogie", which is a wheel axle for trains.
Unite's assistant general secretary, Diana Holland, said: "Was the government's decision more about raising cash rather than building trains, and if Siemens has not yet developed a crucial component, how can the government guarantee the trains will arrive on time? Bombardier's workforce, and the public deserve answers.
"To date all we've had from the government is a catalogue of excuses rather that a compelling case for choosing Siemens over Bombardier."
