Derbyshire-based Bombardier has won a contract with Transport for London worth over £1 billion.
The British government announced earlier in the month that it would award the contract to Bombardier after a 10-day waiting period.
Bombardier’s rail division will supply 65 trains along with a maintenance depot for Crossrail which is set to open in 2018.
The trains will be built at its Derby plant, a long-time hub of rail manufacturing that employs over 1600 people across engineering, manufacturing and design.
Bombardier says the contract will support 840 manufacturing jobs and 80 apprenticeships.
Dr Francis Paonessa, Managing Director of Bombardier Transportation UK said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank TfL as we embark on this flagship contract and look forward to working together with Crossrail to deliver these iconic new trains for London.”
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “The Crossrail project is now rolling on full steam ahead. The manufacture of these new trains will not only revolutionise rail travel in London, they will deliver jobs and economic growth in their birthplace in Derby and across the UK.
“With a firm on board to deliver a fleet of 21st-century trains and the tunnelling more than halfway complete, we’re on track to deliver a truly world-class railway for the capital.”
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “Derby has a deserved reputation for quality train building and I am delighted Bombardier can write the latest chapter in this success story. The deal is a win for the employees of Bombardier and British manufacturing, supporting 760 new jobs and 80 apprenticeships. For commuters it will mean new state-of-the-art trains that deliver quicker and more comfortable journeys and boost capacity across the capital.”
Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail chief executive said: “Crossrail will transform rail services in London and the South East. The new rolling stock is an essential component of Crossrail. We look forward to working with Bombardier to ensure the delivery of the new trains as the project continues to make progress on time and on budget.”
