MORE details emerg-ed today about the future of the doomed Alstom railway works in Eastleigh - and they may spell employment hope for some redundant staff.

About 550 employees and contractors will lose their jobs by the end of this year, when the debt-laden French engineering giant pulls the plug on its train renovation operations.

But it is understood that stop-gap, rail-related job opportunities could be created for 2007 and beyond, which will soften the economic blow.

The 46-acre site is being marketed by commercial property specialists for a short-term letting.

Alstom's five-year lease runs out at the end of 2007.

The company, which is more than £2 billion in debt, currently pays landowner St Modwen - renowned for breathing new life into brownfield sites across the UK - £881,000 a year in rent.

St Modwen's vision, largely dependent on the southern Eastleigh bypass being built, is a job-creating regeneration scheme that would see offices, light industrial units and warehouses spring up.

In the meantime, mothballed rail facilities, such as rolling stock repair and maintenance buildings, can be put to good use by interested businesses during 2007.

Southampton-based commercial property agent Austin Adams has been appointed joint agent with London-based Cyril Leonard to market the site.

Peter Hall of Austin Adams said: "The availability of rail-connected buildings of this scale in Hampshire is rare.

"The ability to provide such facilities on a short-term, or possibly a longer-term basis, will no doubt generate substantial interest and employment opportunities from organisations, whether they require full rail connectivity or not.

"The buildings will be let on competitive, all-inclusive terms as and when they are vacated. Alstom will, however, continue to operate a large proportion of the site until early 2006."

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, St Modwen has received calls from firms keen to take up occupancy.