17.03.04

Porterbrook Statement

Porterbrook Leasing Company , which has invested over £1bn in new trains built by Bombardier Transportation at its Derby Litchurch Lane works, welcomed the decision to retain the Litchurch Lane plant and with it a UK rolling stock manufacturing capability .

Porterbrook also hoped that today's announcement would help Bombardier Transportation establish itself on a firmer financial footing for the future.

At the same time Porterbrook, which is based in Derby, announced its intention to work with the management of Bombardier and the local rail industry to minimise the impact of the Derby, Doncaster and Wakefield job losses on local economies.
Paul Francis, Managing Director of Porterbrook Leasing said

" We will be working with Bombardier and other companies in the Derby and Derbyshire rail community to ensure that those members of the highly skilled Bombardier workforce affected by today's announcement will not be lost to the UK rail industry."

" Despite the sad news about job losses we welcome the decision to retain a UK manufacturing capability and we look forward to continuing to meet the rolling stock demands of today's railways with our Bombardier colleagues based at Derby Litchurch Lane and at their remaining sites throughout the UK."

For further information please contact Rupert Brennan Brown, Head of Communications, Porterbrook Leasing on +44 (0) 77 99 33 7052