Alstom quits race for delayed Crossrail contract

The French train-maker Alstom Transport yesterday washed its hands of London's £16bn Crossrail project, pulling out of the bidding process to build the trains and depot. The move followed Crossrail's announcement that a decision on the tendering process for the £1bn contract to build 60 new carriages and a depot for the project would be delayed.

It was scheduled to start this year, with the contracts being awarded in 2013. Now Crossrail says the final decision will not be made until 2014. It said the delay would save money, but there have also been calls for a review of such tenders since Bombardier lost out on a crucial rail contract last month, jeopardising British jobs.