Call to help train builder

The company has missed several big orders

A Derby MP has urged the government to prevent what he calls the potential death of train making in the UK.

Bob Laxton, MP for Derby North, led a Commons debate on the future of Bombardier, after it lost a crucial order to foreign competitor, Siemens.

The company, which employs 2,000 people in Derby, now has a three year gap in its order book after next year.

Mr Laxton said the potential consequences were disastrous and has demanded orders are brought forward to fill the gap.

He said: "They are the only train assembly factory left in the UK.

"Alstrom have pulled out of Birmingham and Derby is the only one left.

"In the future it would mean if we don't have that capacity in the UK all of that work would be done abroad."

In the debate the government told Mr Laxton that any talk of major job losses at Bombardier was "premature".

Bombardier wants to close some of its European operations to cut costs.