Train maker Bombardier axes jobs

Derby houses the last train making facility in the UK

Train maker Bombardier is cutting its workforce by 2,200 worldwide, with the sharpest edge of the jobs axe falling on the UK, Germany and Canada.

The Canadian company is cutting 560 jobs at the UK's last train making site in Derby and 165 posts will go at its maintenance depot in Ilford.

Additional job cuts will be spread across 14 countries and 27 locations.

Bombardier blamed the move on lower growth forecasts for its European rolling stock market.

In March this year, the company warned of an expected drop in orders and shut down its Pride Park factory in Derby with the loss of 50 jobs.

The latest job cuts will take place at its Litchurch Lane plant.

'Massive blow'

However, the Montreal-based group said if significant deals come in soon it may be able to reduce the number of job losses at the factory.

The Derby plant, which is currently churning out its highest-ever number of trains, makes Turbostar and Electrostar trains for companies including ScotRail, South Eastern and Southern Trains.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) called for the government to step in to prevent the "death" of the British train-making industry.

"This is another massive blow to British manufacturing, and we are now facing the bleak prospect of there being no train-making capacity left in Britain at all," said RMT general secretary Bob Crow.

Bombardier, the world's top train maker and third largest manufacturer of civil aircraft, said it earned $10m (£19.2m) in the third quarter, down from a profit of $133m a year ago.

The latest worldwide job cuts at its trains division will bring total cuts at the unit to 7,600 by April 2006, or 21% of its global work force, the company said.