A BIG question mark hangs over Crewe Works following confirmation that Canadian transport giants Bombardier have swallowed Adtranz in a £480million take-over.

Will the new owners make or break the beleaguered company, plagued by both financial and production problems?

Local workers have welcomed the new owners with "cautious optimism".

But they have some very real concerns and fear they may well have to wait several months before their new bosses reveal just what's in store.

"We are anxious to have information on issues that affect jobs, including rationalisation plans and conditions of service. But at the moment we have been advised that it's business as usual and we may have to wait a while before we have any consultations with management," said works convenor, Michael Roberts.

He revealed that the workers had known for more than 12 months that out-going owners Daimler/Chrysler were not happy with the company's performance.

"We knew they were anxious to off-load it. Now we are hoping that Bombardier will make a go of it. We are optimistic because they are a major player in the railway industry and we feel we have been bought for the right reason. They are keen to gain a larger stake in the industry," said Mr Roberts.

Getting Adtranz, which employs around 22,000 workers world wide, on the right tracks will be quite a challenge for Bombardier, a French Canadian multi-national transport engineering company based in Quebec and already a world leader in the production of business jets, regional aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorised recreational products.

Its new purchase has never made a profit in more than ten years of private ownership. Job numbers at the Crewe Works have dwindled and now the several thousands have been reduced to just one thousand; around 750 on the shop floor.

Formerly owned by British Rail Engineering Ltd it was privatised in 1989 as a management buy-out under the name of BREL.

Dogged by financial difficulties it was bought for just one pound by ABB the Swiss/Swedish multi-national engineering company. They poured millions of pounds into the company during their seven year ownership but to no avail.

In January last year they off-loaded it onto German car manufacturers Daimler/Chrysler who had had a 50 per cent stake in the company for the previous two years. New Chief Executive Rolf Eckrodt warned that if Adtranz did not at least break even by the end of 2000 they would dispose of it.

Daimler/Chrysler are reported to have incurred losses of over £500m during their 18 months' ownership.

Recent problems have included delivery difficulties and delays which gained Adtranz the wrath of central government, the Strategic Rail Authority and the Rail Regulator.

According to one critical employee the company is a classic 'lame duck' that has gradually contracted over the last decade and has lost its various owners valued customers and large amounts of capital.

"I only hope it does not tarnish the reputation of its new owners like it did to ABB and nearly did to Daimler/Chrysler who quickly saw the problem and bailed out," he said.

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