Derby Alstom Train Factory Jobs Fear As Orders Dry Up
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Derby City Council is seeking talks with train builder Alstom over reports it could be about to lay off workers.
These two paragraphs introduce the story.
The firm’s Litchurch Lane site is the only UK train factory able to design, build, engineer and test trains for domestic and export markets.
About 2,000 people work at the factory but the firm says its current order book only runs until early 2024.
This could be another serious problem for High Speed Two.
Could LNER Use High Speed Two Classic-Compatible Trains?
In LNER Seeks 10 More Bi-Modes, I discuss how LNER are needing ten more bi-mode trains to expand their services.
Consider.
- One of LNER’s predecessors used to run Eurostar trains between Kings Cross and Leeds
- A High Speed Two Classic-Compatible trains are 200 metres long, as against the 233.7 metres of a nine-car Class 801 train.
- High Speed Two Classic-Compatible trains will run on the East Coast Main Line, when High Speed Two fully opens.
- London to Doncaster, Edinburgh, Leeds, Newcastle and York are all fully electrified routes.
So if all these fully-electric routes, were to be run using High Speed Two Classic-Compatible trains, this would release a number of Class 800 and Class 801 trains, which could be converted to bi-modes or battery-electric variants.
London and Edinburgh In Three-And-A-Half Hours
This is a paragraph from the Wikipedia entry for the InterCity 225 train.
The InterCity 225 was designed to achieve a peak service speed of 140 mph (225 km/h); during a test run in 1989 on Stoke Bank between Peterborough and Grantham, an InterCity 225 was recorded at a speed of 162 mph (260.7 km/h). Its high speed capabilities were again demonstrated via a 3hr 29mins non-stop run between London and Edinburgh on 26 September 1991. British regulations have since required in-cab signalling on any train running at speeds above 125 mph (201 km/h) preventing such speeds from being legally attained in regular service. Thus, except on High Speed 1, which is equipped with cab signalling, British signalling does not allow any train, including the InterCity 225, to exceed 125 mph (201 km/h) in regular service, due to the impracticality of correctly observing lineside signals at high speed.
If in-cab digital signalling were to be installed between London and Edinburgh, I believe that the three-and-a-half hour timing can be regularly achieved by a High Speed Two Classic-Compatible train.
I also believe that at least one train per hour (tph) between London and Edinburgh could achieve the three-and-a-half hour timing.
High Speed Two are promising a 3:48 time between London and Edinburgh.
It could be a Lumo-squasher!
A one tph service would need eight trains, but would release eight nine-car Class 801 trains.
Euston and Glasgow
This might be another route, where High Speed Two Classic-Compatible trains could be used.
Conclusion
LNER gets some more trains and Derby gets more work.
But the biggest benefits would be that, the trains would get a thorough testing before High Speed Two opens and passengers would get a view of the shape of things to come.
The Anonymous Widower 
From the Government Press Release dated 21st March 2023
“Derby has been named as the national headquarters of Great British Railways (GBR HQ), marking a key milestone in the government’s plan to reform the nation’s railways.
As Europe’s largest rail hub, Derby will soon become the heart of Great Britain’s rail industry too, bringing track and train together and delivering high-skilled jobs to a city already brimming with the best talent in the industry”
Well it won’t be “brimming with the best talent” unless they pull their finger out. Another case of this Government saying one thing and doing another.
Comment by fammorris | September 15, 2023 |
Capacity is already very limited on the ECML. Current 80x units already have 140 mph ability with cab signalling. You don’t need a HS2 set which would undoubtedly accelerate slower and probably be current restricted like Eurostar was not to mention heavier.
Comment by Graham Vials | September 15, 2023 |
No progress from this pale imitation
of a Government. https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/transport-secretary-hopes-alstom-maintains-8839273?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar
Comment by fammorris | October 18, 2023 |
On Friday The Times is reporting that three thousand jobs are to be “lost after Alstom gave ministers formal notice that it will begin mothballing the historic Litchurch Lane train factory in Derby” unless it gets a guarantee of continuing work in near future.
Comment by fammorris | March 30, 2024 |