Fury as SPANISH company handed £490million contract to build our trains

2016-01-23

Fury as SPANISH company handed £490million contract to build our trains

FURIOUS unions have attacked a decision to had a £490 million train building contract to Spain.

PUBLISHED: 05:12, Sat, Jan 23, 2016 | UPDATED: 05:28, Sat, Jan 23, 2016

RMT general secretary Mick Cash criticised the decision to send the contract oversea

They blasted that Arravia’s – a multinational public transport company – decision was „kick in the teeth”.RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: „This is yet another kick in the teeth to train building, in the nation that gave the railways to the world.”At a time when manufacturing jobs and the steel industry in Britain are under the cosh it is nothing short of scandalous that this contract has been sent overseas.”

IGMick Cash said the decision was ‘nothing short of scandalous’

Bombardier’s Derby operation was reportedly bidding for the deal to provide 281 vehicles to Arriva Rail North.However the contract was given to rolling stock manufacturer CAF.Arriva said the 100mph trains will „transform” travel for passengers in the north of England and insisted the CAF contract was the best value.

An Arriva spokesman said: „CAF provided the best, value-for-money offer in response to our requirements.”

Arriva Rail North gave the £490 million train building contract to CAF

This is yet another kick in the teeth

RMT general secretary Mick Cash

The Spanish company is expected to submit tenders for other UK contracts, including the High Speed 2 rail link between London and the north.Transport minister Andrew Jones said: „Thanks to our record investment more than 2,000 carriages are being built in British factories.”The state of the art trains Arriva are providing will improve journeys across the North, which has suffered from worn-out rolling stock for too long.”

Forrás: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk