Bombardier Transportation UK ‘paused’ rolling stock production at its Derby site, heavy maintenance at Ilford and component refurbishment and overhaul at Crewe on 25 March. This was due to the new Government social distancing measures to tackle COVID-19, and because the virus had affected production at many suppliers.
Using the pause to review working practices at Derby, Crewe and Ilford with site trade union representatives, Bombardier has begun trialling new processes that include greater spacing, split shifts, additional safety requirements and washing facilities.
From Tuesday 14 April, Bombardier will restart train production at Derby and heavy maintenance at Ilford, with component refurbishment and overhaul at Crewe following on 15 April. Ramp up will be managed around supply chain recovery and listening to employees, reviewing and revising working practices as necessary.
All staff who can work from home will continue to do so, and services teams will continue to keep Britain’s trains moving for essential workers as they have done throughout.
A Bombardier spokesman said: “As Britain’s leading rail engineering business, we look forward to the full resumption of operations at the appropriate time.”