Potential new orders for struggling train firm

Struggling train firm Alstom says it is in "intense discussions" with the government and Transport for London about a potential order for the Elizabeth Line.

The manufacturer said the order could "help secure the future of" its Litchchurch Lane site in Derby.

Alstom said in April it was reopening a redundancy consultation at the site.

No contracts have been signed yet but all parties agreed to conclude discussions by May.

Alstom's Group CEO travelled to the UK from France on Tuesday to meet Transport Secretary Mark Harper, as well as plus Alstom's Europe and UK managing directors.

The potential order being discussed would not be a new contract, but would use a clause within the existing Elizabeth Line contract to produce more trains.

A total number of trains has not been revealed, however Alstom said previously that 10 trains would be the minimum order needed to keep the Derby site producing them.

In a letter to Derby North MP Amanda Solloway shared on X on Tuesday, Mr Harper said the Department for Transport (DfT) had "secured in principle" to support funding for give further Elizabeth Line trains in addition to five trains confirmed in March.

It added that the "onus was now on Alstom to provide competitive pricing for the work".

Meanwhile, work of some contractors at Litchurch Lane has already ended and a consultation programme on job losses among Alstom employees is ongoing.

The Unite union said it was until contracts were signed there was "no deal".

Paresh Patel, Unite's regional secretary, told the BBC: "We're watching the development very closely. Obviously we don't have all the details but there does seem to be some encouraging movement.

"But until deals have been signed and contracts have been signed there is no deal.

"We've been here before where we felt it was close to getting the matter over the line but we still continued to talk about it 10 months on."