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Bombardier has been urged to bid for contracts linked to the £16bn Crossrail railway project in London by transport secretary Philip Hammond. It comes three months after the Derby train maker discovered it had lost out on a £1.4bn contract to build 1,200 carriages for the government's Thameslink route.

Bombardier has said it is cutting 1,400 jobs in the East Midlands following missing out on the Thameslink deal to German rival Siemens.

But Hammond said Bombardier should now bid to supply about 600 carriages for the £16bn Crossrail project, set to link east and west London.

It comes after 200 campaigners travelled to London to try to influence the government to help save the manufacturer.

Hammond told reporters: "There are a number of contracts the government would expect Bombardier to bid for, including the Crossrail project for the supply of around 600 carriages, for which Bombardier is already a pre-qualified bidder.

"The tender for this contract is due to be issued in 2012. There are also potential future orders for the London Underground deep Tube line."

The comments have been cautiously received by campaigners angered by the original decision. Meanwhile, the Unite union has urged the government to keep focused on its decision to deny Bombardier the Thameslink deal.

Derby City Council has agreed to fund a possible legal review over the government's decision and said it would back Unite in any move.