DERBY train-maker Bombardier has officially started work on a contract that will sustain its city factory for at least the next five years.
Yesterday, workers at the Litchurch Lane site began work on the £1 billion Crossrail contract.
The start of the contract marks not only the beginning of a busy time for Bombardier but also the culmination of years of campaigning by the city of Derby to persuade the Government to support the train manufacturer.
The Derby factory had previously been overlooked for other massive rolling stock contracts in favour of foreign rivals.
But the campaign, led by the Derby Telegraph, persuaded the Government to review its procurement rules, which gave the train-maker a fairer shot at UK train deals.
Now, with the contract in the bag, the real hard work starts as Bombardier's 1,600 staff knuckle down and focus on delivering the 65 Crossrail trains on time and to budget.
The train that Bombardier will be supplying is known as the Aventra – a design it first put forward for Thameslink, a £1.6 billion contract it lost out on to German firm Siemens.
Production staff will not start making the Crossrail trains straight away. According to Bombardier, the first work involves the firm's design team, which is also based at the Litchurch Lane.
Crossrail will be operated by Transport for London, which is now working with the train-maker on the final design for the trains.
Dr Francis Paonessa, Bombardier's UK managing director, said: "We are delighted to have commenced work on the Crossrail project and look forward to delivering these iconic new trains."
Once TfL has approved a final design, Bombardier will be able to start the process that will eventually lead to manufacture and assembly of the trains, the first of which is due to be delivered in May, 2017. The final deliveries should take place in 2019. The contract also includes an option to purchase 18 additional trains.
Each Crossrail train will be just over 200 metres long, made up of nine carriages and able to carry up to 1,500 passengers.
In a statement, TFL said: "Key features of the Crossrail trains include air conditioning and inter-connecting walk-through carriages. On-train passenger information systems will also deliver real-time travel information to allow passengers to plan their onward journeys.
"The new lightweight Crossrail trains will be built with an emphasis on energy-efficiency and use of intelligent on-train energy management systems."
Mike Brown, managing director of London Underground and London Rail, said: "We look forward to working closely with Bombardier on the delivery of all these new trains, as we continue to invest in larger, more frequent and reliable trains for our customers."
Bombardier's UK supply chain will also be readying themselves with a busy few years ahead. That's because an estimated 74% of the contract spend will remain in the UK economy.
Speaking last week at the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum's annual conference, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "The benefits of this contract will be felt across the rail sector – and across Derby."
