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| Crossrail contenders prepare to swoop for carriages contract | Crossrail contenders prepare to swoop for carriages contract |
| (12 days later) | |
| A £1bn competition to build carriages for the Crossrail project is expected to relaunch this week, with the future of Britain's last active train manufacturing plant in the balance. | A £1bn competition to build carriages for the Crossrail project is expected to relaunch this week, with the future of Britain's last active train manufacturing plant in the balance. |
| The long-term prospects for the 173-year-old Bombardier plant and about 1,600 jobs are in doubt, with the Crossrail contract seen as key to the factory's survival. | The long-term prospects for the 173-year-old Bombardier plant and about 1,600 jobs are in doubt, with the Crossrail contract seen as key to the factory's survival. |
| The process has been suspended after the scrapping of a private finance initiative that would have underpinned the order. Instead, it will be publicly funded in a move that is expected to level the playing field between the four bidders: Canada-owned Bombardier; Germany's Siemens; Japan's Hitachi and Spain's CAF. | The process has been suspended after the scrapping of a private finance initiative that would have underpinned the order. Instead, it will be publicly funded in a move that is expected to level the playing field between the four bidders: Canada-owned Bombardier; Germany's Siemens; Japan's Hitachi and Spain's CAF. |
| A PFI, with its reliance on debt funding from the markets, was thought to favour the chances of Siemens, which has superior financial firepower to Bombardier. The full Crossrail line is expected to open in 2018. | A PFI, with its reliance on debt funding from the markets, was thought to favour the chances of Siemens, which has superior financial firepower to Bombardier. The full Crossrail line is expected to open in 2018. |
| However, Bombardier will contest the contract for 600 carriages without its UK boss. Paul Roberts , Bombardier Transportation's chief UK representative, is stepping down after less than two years in the post to take up a senior role at IMI, the FTSE-listed engineering business. | However, Bombardier will contest the contract for 600 carriages without its UK boss. Paul Roberts , Bombardier Transportation's chief UK representative, is stepping down after less than two years in the post to take up a senior role at IMI, the FTSE-listed engineering business. |
| A Bombardier spokesman said: "Paul Roberts is leaving Bombardier in order to take up an opportunity outside the company. The process to appoint a successor has begun. He will remain working with Bombardier over the next few months to ensure an orderly handover." | A Bombardier spokesman said: "Paul Roberts is leaving Bombardier in order to take up an opportunity outside the company. The process to appoint a successor has begun. He will remain working with Bombardier over the next few months to ensure an orderly handover." |
| Instead of the original timetable, which would have seen the shortlist of four reduced to two before choosing a winner, Crossrail is expected to go straight to the selection of a preferred bidder next year. The 73-mile rail route links Heathrow airport to Canary Wharf in London Docklands and Shenfield in Essex via 25 miles of tunnels under central London. | Instead of the original timetable, which would have seen the shortlist of four reduced to two before choosing a winner, Crossrail is expected to go straight to the selection of a preferred bidder next year. The 73-mile rail route links Heathrow airport to Canary Wharf in London Docklands and Shenfield in Essex via 25 miles of tunnels under central London. |
| The revised tender for the Crossrail carriage deal is scheduled for publication this week, as at least six bidders prepare to lodge their interest in the contract for operating services on the £14.8bn project. | The revised tender for the Crossrail carriage deal is scheduled for publication this week, as at least six bidders prepare to lodge their interest in the contract for operating services on the £14.8bn project. |
| Submissions are expected from FirstGroup, Go-Ahead and National Express, which are seasoned UK rail operators, as well as the Hong Kong-based MTR, France's RATP and Arriva, owned by Germany's state-backed Deutsche Bahn. | Submissions are expected from FirstGroup, Go-Ahead and National Express, which are seasoned UK rail operators, as well as the Hong Kong-based MTR, France's RATP and Arriva, owned by Germany's state-backed Deutsche Bahn. |
| If Go-Ahead expresses interest, it is expected to team with Keolis, owned by the French national rail operator, SNCF. | If Go-Ahead expresses interest, it is expected to team with Keolis, owned by the French national rail operator, SNCF. |
| Crossrail's operations director, Howard Smith, said: "It is encouraging to see keen competition for the job of operating Crossrail for us." Crossrail is a joint venture between the Department for Transport and the London mayor's transport authority, Transport for London. | Crossrail's operations director, Howard Smith, said: "It is encouraging to see keen competition for the job of operating Crossrail for us." Crossrail is a joint venture between the Department for Transport and the London mayor's transport authority, Transport for London. |
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