The Derby Evening Telegraph is renewing calls for the Government to intervene after a £250m contract was awarded to a German company rather than Derby-based train-maker Bombardier.

The move could cost 12,000 local jobs.

The Telegraph had been calling for the contract to build 56 news trains for the Trans-Pennine route to be awarded to Bombardier - safeguarding 1,800 posts there and a further 10,000 jobs at local suppliers.

But German firm Siemens has now been announced as the preferred bidder, which, although not a done deal, leaves Siemens in the driving seat for the contract and Bombardier frozen out.

Announcing the bad news to readers, the Telegraph ran a front-page comment under the headline "The Great Train Robbery", and announced it would be lobbying transport minister Kim Howells in a bid to get him to step in.

The paper said: "It is with Mr Howells that the last hope to reverse this appalling situation lies.

"Today Derby Evening Telegraph calls on the minister to abandon the black armband, refuse to preside over the funeral of the train-making industry and, instead, intervene to overturn Siemen's 'preferred bidder' status.

"He may be the last hope to preserve a proud British tradition."

The Telegraph is redoubling its efforts to get readers to play their part in the campaign to keep rail jobs in Derby, by signing and returning coupons voicing their concern.

Completed coupons will then be given to the transport minister on September 3, when he is due to visit Bombardier.

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