Production has resumed at Alstom’s Derby factory following the award of a £370 million contract to supply 10 additional trains for London’s Elizabeth Line. The agreement with Transport for London (TfL), confirmed in mid-2024, has provided a crucial boost for the Litchurch Lane facility, which had faced potential closure due to a shortage of orders.
Work has now begun on the new fleet, marking the first full-scale manufacturing at the site in around 18 months. The factory, once employing 1,500 people, had been operating at minimal capacity since 2023. Alstom confirmed its workforce now stands at approximately 650, with plans to increase headcount by about 100 employees in 2026 to meet contract requirements.
The deal ensures continuity for one of the UK’s key rolling stock manufacturing hubs, which has produced trains for national and international markets for more than a century. It follows a challenging period that saw widespread voluntary departures during a redundancy consultation in 2024.
Alstom is also pursuing further business opportunities, including export projects and partnerships with other rail firms. The company secured an additional £60 million contract in August 2024 to refurbish CrossCountry’s Voyager fleet, reinforcing its position in the UK rail supply chain.
The Elizabeth Line order is expected to stabilise operations in the near term while providing a foundation for future contracts in an increasingly competitive rail manufacturing landscape.
