Potential layoffs at Bombardier factory in Britain

Canadian transportation giant Bombardier will announce staff changes Tuesday to its Derby factory in Britain, after losing a contract to rival Siemens, a company official said. Layoffs were expected. The company will announce a revised capacity plan after an employee meeting early Tuesday in Derby, Bombardier spokesman Marc Laforge told AFP. According to the Canadian daily newspaper The Globe and Mail, the company is expected to "massively" reduce its workforce at its factory about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from London. The Bombardier spokesman did not confirm the report About 3,000 employees currently work at the plant, and Bombardier employs some 25,400 staff across Europe. In late June, Siemens beat out its Canadian competitor for a contract to deliver 1,200 train carriages for London's Thameslink commuter rail. At the Toronto Stock Exchange, Bombardier stocks were down .72 percent to $CAN 6.90 ($7.20 US).