Bombardier wins Virgin Trains maintenance contract

Deal safeguards hundreds of jobs at company's Staffordshire depot

Engineering giant Bombardier has won a £106 million contract to continue maintaining Virgin's Voyager trains running on the west coast main line.

The deal will extend an existing agreement to 2016, safeguarding 360 jobs at Bombardier's depot in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, where the bulk of the maintenance work will continue to be carried out.

Tony Collins, chief executive of Virgin Trains, said: “Virgin Trains are delighted to extend our service agreement with Bombardier Transportation, building on the strong relationship we have developed over the last 13 years.

“The Voyagers are a key part of the west coast fleet and we look forward to working with Bombardier to continue to deliver a reliable and punctual service to all of our customers.”

Paul Roberts of Bombardier Transportation said: “Winning this contract allows us to continue our strong relationship with Virgin, which has been in place since 1998.”

Virgin has been running the west coast main line since 1997, with FirstGroup having been due to take over on 9 December this year. The government scrapped that decision earlier this autumn after flaws and inconsistencies in the bidding process came to light.

Virgin will now continue to run the line until 9 November 2014.

Bombardier Transportation employs more than 3,200 people across the UK. The company has delivered, or has on order, more than 60% of the UK's existing rail fleet and maintains 40% of the country's rolling stock.