Bombardier wins £1bn contract in 'biggest investment in rail since the Victorian era'

Deal will see Bombardier build 660 carriages for Abellio East Anglia which will secure 1,000 jobs at its Derby factory

Bombardier Transportation has won a £1 billion contract to build 660 carriages for Abellio East Anglia, which will secure 1,000 jobs at its Derby factory.

The contract came as the government awarded the East Anglia franchise to Abellio.

The franchise agreement will see the introduction of 1,043 new carriages between January 2019 and September 2020, featuring free WiFi and controlled emission toilets.

A full programme of refurbishment for the current fleet will begin in the meantime.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “We are making the biggest investment in the railways since the Victorian era.

“Abellio’s decision will ensure our train building industry in Derby remains strong. This is part of our plan to make an economy that works for everyone – not just the privileged few – by ensuring prosperity is spread.”

Des McKeon, UK commercial director at Bombardier Transportation, added: “It’s a great endorsement of Bombardier’s next-generation Aventra train family, which offers maximum flexibility, to serve many different market requirements from metro to intercity.”

The new franchise will run from October 2016 until 2025.