engineering - train manufacture
WORKERS, DECEMBER 2003 ISSUE
5000 jobs are under threat at the train builders, Bombardier. Manufacturing and engineering jobs in Derby, Crewe, Doncaster, Wakefield and numerous other traditional bastions of train building in Britain are faced with extinction. The crisis stems from the time delay in the replacement of trains for London Underground - scheduled for 2008 - and Connex South Eastern trains.
Ironically the tube- and train-using public of London and the South East, who have suffered most from derailments, shortages of rolling stock and chronic overcrowding during the last 12 months, are now likely to face not only more of the same but worsening conditions if the train builders are axed. If an example were required of government inaction and a 'non-transport' policy, then the failure to preserve manufacturing jobs, resolve the crisis in public transport and ease congestion in one fell swoop, readily springs to mind.