The Derby Evening Telegraph is organising a delegation to go to the House of Commons in a bid to demonstrate the strength of feeling over the threat to the future of train manufacturer Bombardier.

The delegation is the latest step in the paper's fight to safeguard the future of 12,000 local jobs which its says are being threatened by a lack of orders at Derby-based Bombardier.

Last month the train manufacturer failed to win a £250m order for a new Trans-Pennine route - losing out to German rival Siemens, which has been declared the preferred bidder for the contract.

The order would have filled a gap in the Bombardier's order book that stretches from 2005 until 2008, when work will begin on a £3.4bn contract to help modernise the London Underground.

The Evening Telegraph has been calling for the Government to intervene, and presented Transport Minister Kim Howells with a 3,668-signature petition, supporting its Hands Off Our Trains campaign, when he visited Derby earlier this month.

It is hoped the delegation to the Commons will reinforce the message to the Government that Bombardier should remain in Derby.

Among those planning to travel to London are former railway workers, union representatives and Bob Laxton, MP for Derby North.

Back to the campaigns index

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk