Unite reaction to the launch of the Crossrail contract
Commenting on today's launch of the tender process to supply trains for the £1bn Crossrail contract, Unite's assistant general secretary, Diana Holland said:
"The Crossrail contract is hugely important for British manufacturing, particularly after the disastrous Thameslink decision. The mistakes the government made almost closed Britain's last train maker. It would have shut if it hadn’t been for a concerted campaign to keep Bombardier's Derby site open.
"At first sight, the procurement criteria for the Crossrail contract looks like an improvement on the Thameslink fiasco. We hope that this is a strong indication, that in this instance, the government has learnt lessons.
"We expect a fair and transparent bidding process. We are not asking for favours, we are asking for fairness for British based manufacturing and the supply chain. "
ENDS
Contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
Notes to editors:
The four shortlisted bidders for the Crossrail rolling stock and depot procurement were issued with tender documents at Crossrail today. The four shortlisted organisations are:
· Bombardier Transportation (UK) Limited;
· Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA (CAF);
· Hitachi Rail Europe Limited; and
· Siemens plc.
To deliver Crossrail services, around 60 new trains will be required. Each Crossrail train will be around 200 metres in length and able to carry up to 1,500 passengers.
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