All depends on who gets the future contracts. Are Alstom actually vacating the site? The article indicates that the site is being mothballed, not demolished.Stadler fancy a new assembly plant?
All depends on who gets the future contracts. Are Alstom actually vacating the site? The article indicates that the site is being mothballed, not demolished.Stadler fancy a new assembly plant?
All depends on who gets the future contracts. Are Alstom actually vacating the site? The article indicates that the site is being mothballed, not demolished.
The government can't give EMU contracts blindly to be built in Derby under any circumstances.The government cannot ignore that and give EMU contracts blindly to keep Derby open.
I’m sure they could require them to be built in the UK, which for Alstom would mean Derby in all but name.The government can't give EMU contracts blindly to be built in Derby under any circumstances.
The Widnes site was also identified as having potential for new train assembly, although that was before Alstom acquired Bombardier.I’m sure they could require them to be built in the UK, which for Alstom would mean Derby in all but name.
Well it pretty much did when they awarded a fast-track contract for the first 387s in 2012.The government can't give EMU contracts blindly to be built in Derby under any circumstances.
The Thameslink 387s were due to delays in signing the 700 contract which put it back by 3 years.Well it pretty much did when they awarded a fast-track contract for the first 387s in 2012.
This was after Hitachi had won the IEP order, and Siemens the Thameslink order, so Derby looked vulnerable.
DfT engineered that Southern/GTR order a tranche of 387s to bolster the Thameslink fleet before the 700s arrived, and that order ballooned into 387s for GWR and elsewhere, and then into the Aventra orders.
(GWR had been due to get cascaded 319s).
A bimode Aventra has been offered for a while.An article I just read said that Derby should get a contract to replace the Chiltern stock.
But that's diesel/bi-mode and not in Derby's current skill-set.
SE's requirements are really just any good EMU platform. Aventra has good regen performance while Desiro Cities are already in the SE fleet.Aventra looks the ideal train for Southeastern's tender; it's either that or Desiro Cities. I still think the Aventra might reappear, rebranded as being part of the "Adessia" family.
Or AT200s I guess. But still, Aventra must be/have been in with a shout.
Any government contracts need to be procured under the Utilities Procurement Act 2016 which opens up all competitions of this side to OJEU, so no, they could not.I’m sure they could require them to be built in the UK, which for Alstom would mean Derby in all but name.
I’m sure they could require them to be built in the UK, which for Alstom would mean Derby in all but name.
The Widnes site was also identified as having potential for new train assembly, although that was before Alstom acquired Bombardier.
BBC version of storyClosure is now confirmed
Thousands of jobs to be lost from Derby train factory closure
Alstom points finger at transport secretary as work dries up for historic manufacturing plantwww.thetimes.co.uk
The UK's largest rail assembly factory has confirmed it is resuming a redundancy process for 1,300 permanent staff members.
Derby train builder Alstom has given formal notice to the government that it has started mothballing its Litchurch Lane factory.
The manufacturer said having "no meaningful workload" until at least the middle of 2026 was "totally unsustainable"
In a letter to Mr Harper, first reported by the Times, external and confirmed by the BBC, Nick Crossfield, Alstom UK’s managing director, said the company has been left with no choice but to resume the redundancy consultation process.
The letter said: “The ending of train manufacture at Derby Litchurch Lane after 147 years is an outcome we have been working extremely hard to avoid.
"After ten months of inconclusive discussions, we must now begin the arduous and disruptive task of demobilising manufacturing operations at Derby Litchurch Lane.
“A production gap of this scale is totally unsustainable for Alstom and our supply chain to manage.”
Is Stadler out of the question for Southeastern with a 777 variant , they have the 3rd rail experience after all.Chiltern opportunity notices (no tenders yet) are for any combination of electric, battery, and "low-emission" power.
Aventra looks the ideal train for Southeastern's tender; it's either that or Desiro Cities. I still think the Aventra might reappear, rebranded as being part of the "Adessia" family.
Or AT200s I guess. But still, Aventra must be/have been in with a shout.
The Government have said whoever gets the order for Southeastern will not be confirmed before 2025 (maybe Dec 2024?)Is Stadler out of the question for Southeastern with a 777 variant , they have the 3rd rail experience after all.
Companies making over 19 redundant have to notify the Insolvency Service in advance (called form HR1) 20-99 employees being made redundant need 30 days notice, for 100 or more 45 days notice.BBC version of story
The UK's largest rail assembly factory has confirmed it is resuming a redundancy process for 1,300 permanent staff members.
Derby train builder Alstom has given formal notice to the government that it has started mothballing its Litchurch Lane factory.
The manufacturer said having "no meaningful workload" until at least the middle of 2026 was "totally unsustainable"
But Derby is the only site where most of the full train can be built.Said it before and will say it again.
We don’t need four assembly plants in the UK. The DfT forced the hands of manufacturers to UK assembly to create their own fate of over capacity. So given we are where we are, what can the govt. do now other than let Derby fail…?
No, but if going to have start-stop order book, rather than a strategic smoothed level of production then need four at busy times.Said it before and will say it again.
We don’t need four assembly plants in the UK. The DfT forced the hands of manufacturers to UK assembly to create their own fate of over capacity. So given we are where we are, what can the govt. do now other than let Derby fail…?
Nothing announced, but the XC press release did mention refurbishing with parters Beacon Rail (trains owners) and Alstom. Although Widnes is on last few 390 refurbs so will soon have space too.Harper mentions the XC Voyager refurbishment.
Has that work been contracted to Alstom then?
Except for all the extruded and welded sections that get imported from China, and all the non process work get gets out shopped to companies like Promex, or the production of wiring looms that used to handled in house, that then got split out to RoC then told to Mothersons who’s already shut down their Derby site and the absolute mountains of electronics and power components that all get bought in from the mainland.But Derby is the only site where most of the full train can be built.
But that could be on site at Central Rivers, down at Ilford where other work has been done or at Widnes which is much better set up for refurb work and has much lower operating costs than Litchurch Lane.Nothing announced, but the XC press release did mention refurbishing with parters Beacon Rail (trains owners) and Alstom. Although Widnes is on last few 390 refurbs so will soon have space too.
Yup, spot on re shirt term political gain "look at this new factory and all of these new jobs" which was always destined to fail in the medium to longer term.Said it before and will say it again.
We don’t need four assembly plants in the UK. The DfT forced the hands of manufacturers to UK assembly to create their own fate of over capacity. So given we are where we are, what can the govt. do now other than let Derby fail…?
If we were going down the road of keeping one site/company that could “build the whole train” then Washwood Heath would have been a much better bet. The high value stuff (power electronics) was UK design and build.Except for all the extruded and welded sections that get imported from China, and all the non process work get gets out shopped to companies like Promex, or the production of wiring looms that used to handled in house, that then got split out to RoC then told to Mothersons who’s already shut down their Derby site and the absolute mountains of electronics and power components that all get bought in from the mainland.
Litchurch Lane is and was an assembly site, the fact they assembled a bit more and had more processes on there including aluminium welding doesn’t mean the whole train is / was made there.
Exactly that! People have been for too long fouled by Litchurch Lanes shear size that they did 'everything' there. No. It's just a Victorian scale assembly site, which is why they were able to pump out as many Aventra's as they did, by having 6 (if I'm remembering right) production lines going all at once. I'm pretty sure I've seen it said / written that Litchurch Lane is Asltom's biggest facility, and without a decent steady flow of orders is never going to be able keep a stable level of employment.Except for all the extruded and welded sections that get imported from China, and all the non process work get gets out shopped to companies like Promex, or the production of wiring looms that used to handled in house, that then got split out to RoC then told to Mothersons who’s already shut down their Derby site and the absolute mountains of electronics and power components that all get bought in from the mainland.
Litchurch Lane is and was an assembly site, the fact they assembled a bit more and had more processes on there including aluminium welding doesn’t mean the whole train is / was made there.
I think you could say the same of Newton Aycliffe now they can weld car bodies together.But Derby is the only site where most of the full train can be built.
A 777 / METRO platform variant is unlikely, it is designed for relatively low-speed (up to 75 mph) metro like applications, such as merseyrail; A FLIRT variant would be more likely, as it is more designed for faster mainline and branchline servicesIs Stadler out of the question for Southeastern with a 777 variant , they have the 3rd rail experience after all.
Stadler with their low floors are narrower at floor level reducing usable floor area and hence standing area, which will score very poorly with current DfT (including previous SE rolling stock tender) metrics.A 777 / METRO platform variant is unlikely, it is designed for relatively low-speed (up to 75 mph) metro like applications, such as merseyrail; A FLIRT variant would be more likely, as it is more designed for faster mainline and branchline services
Though personally I would be surprised if it went to Stadler
Back on topic, I'm sad to see the factory being mothballed, best of luck to everyone losing their job. Hopefully they'll be able to get a good new job soon (or retire!)
I thought the extrusions came from Italy? Or has that changed in recent years?Except for all the extruded and welded sections that get imported from China, and all the non process work get gets out shopped to companies like Promex, or the production of wiring looms that used to handled in house, that then got split out to RoC then told to Mothersons who’s already shut down their Derby site and the absolute mountains of electronics and power components that all get bought in from the mainland.
Litchurch Lane is and was an assembly site, the fact they assembled a bit more and had more processes on there including aluminium welding doesn’t mean the whole train is / was made there.
But that could be on site at Central Rivers, down at Ilford where other work has been done or at Widnes which is much better set up for refurb work and has much lower operating costs than Litchurch Lane.
The trucks rocking up had some very china looking typography on it.I thought the extrusions came from Italy? Or has that changed in recent years?
How many times…Dumb question but can anyone of the factories be used for light rail? I think TfL's tram procurement could have a provision to have them built in the UK.
Ah OK understood, just thought the 777 esqe interior would be ideal for SE metro like the 376A 777 / METRO platform variant is unlikely, it is designed for relatively low-speed (up to 75 mph) metro like applications, such as merseyrail; A FLIRT variant would be more likely, as it is more designed for faster mainline and branchline services
Though personally I would be surprised if it went to Stadler
Back on topic, I'm sad to see the factory being mothballed, best of luck to everyone losing their job. Hopefully they'll be able to get a good new job soon (or retire!)