The
number
of
jobs


which
could
be
lost
in
Derby
because
of
the
Alstom
crisis
has
more
than
doubled.

Earlier
reports
suggested
that
600
jobs
could
be
shed
because
of
a
lack
of
orders,
but
it
is
now
feared
that
more
than
1300
workers
could
be
laid
off.

In
a
statement
issued
a
short
time
ago,
Alstom
said
it
is
set
to
cut
1500
jobs
worldwide.

The
company
is
facing
a
wider
cash
crisis.
It
says
it
is
planning
to
raise
money
by
selling
assets
worth
up
to
one
billion
Euros
and
may
also
increase
its
capital
to
help
its
balance
sheet.

The
markets
have
reacted
badly,
with
the
value
of
Alstom
shares
falling
by
16
per
cent
since
stock
exchanges
opened
this
morning.

Litchurch
Lane
in
Derby
is
running
out
of
orders.
Current
projects
include
the
Class
730
Aventra
fleet
for
West
Midlands
Trains
and
a
monorail
in
Egypt,
but
work
on
these
will
be
completed
in
2024.

A
likely
reduction
in
size
of
the
HS2
fleet
is
one
problem,
following
the
cancellation
of
the
West
Midlands
to
Manchester
section
last
month
by
the
Prime
Minister.
Alstom
is
to
build
the
high
speed
trains
in
conjunction
with
Hitachi,
but
construction
is
not
due
to
begin
until
2026.

Another
threat
is
the
lack
of
forthcoming
orders
for
conventional
lines
in
Britain.

It
now
seems
that
780
agency
staff
could
lose
their
jobs,
along
with
550
permanent
employees.
If
these
losses
went
ahead,
the
current
workforce
would
be
more
than
halved.

Alstom
said
it
has
been
working
with
the
UK
government
over
the
last
six
months
to
achieve
a
‘sustainable
future’
for
the
Derby
factory,
which
it
acquired
when
it
took
over
Bombardier
in
2021.

Alstom’s
statement
continued:
‘No
committed
way
forward
has
yet
been
found
and
therefore
it
is
with
deep
regret
that
we
must
now
begin
to
plan
for
a
significant
reduction
in
activity
at
Derby
by
entering
a
period
of
collective
consultation
on
potential
redundancies
at
Litchurch
Lane.

‘We
will
fully
support
our
dedicated
colleagues
during
this
exceptionally
difficult
time.
We
look
forward
to
fulfilling
our
commitments
on
HS2
and
successfully
competing
for
rolling
stock
opportunities
across
the
UK
in
the
future.

‘We
remain
open-minded
as
to
the
future
of
non-production
functions
located
at
Litchurch
Lane
and
to
potential
future
alternative
uses
for
the
Derby
site.

‘We
will
begin
an
extensive
review
of
options,
and
will
fully
involve
our
stakeholders
in
this
process.’