Up to 2,000 jobs could be created in the UK if Siemens wins a Thameslink contract to manufacture and maintain around 1,200 rail coaches.

A spokesperson for Siemens told Recruiter that 1,400 jobs would be created building two new depots and maintaining new trains, and that a further 600 jobs would be created in manufacturing. Of these 600 jobs, 300 would be directly employed by Siemens in its factory in Hebburn, South Tyneside, while 300 would be created in the UK supply chain.

Siemens has been named as the preferred bidder by Transport for London (TfL) but has not yet secured the contract.

Last week, Bombardier announced 1,429 job losses at its factory in Derby after it failed to win the TfL contract.