ANOTHER 90 jobs are to be axed from Eastleigh's giant railway works with bosses blaming delays in rail franchise awards - postponing the start of major renovation contracts.

The jobs bombshell comes just seven months after the loss of 50 jobs for exactly the same reason and less than a year after another 75 staff accepted a pay-off to quit their jobs specialising in renovating train coaches.

The announcement of the latest cuts was made to the 571-strong workforce at the Campbell Road train renovation centre last Friday.

A company statement said the "rationalisation" programme was due to a reduced level of current and expected workload as a result of on-going franchise delays continuing to postpone the start date of major renovation contracts.

It added: "Also, in order to improve the profitability of Eastleigh as a whole, some manufacturing processes have been reviewed and streamlined over recent months.

"As a result, regretfully, it will be necessary to reduce the workforce by 90 people over the next two months and it is hoped that the majority of those redundancies will be voluntary."

The company added that comprehensive arrangements were in place with the trade unions for dealing with the job losses and the company would be consulting with all concerned over the coming weeks.

But some staff fear the entire company - which has been a major employer in the town since the days of British Rail - may be wound down.

One worker, who did not want to be named, said: "People are angry and cross. We were told our jobs were guaranteed until August - and then they said this on Friday.

"They have not behaved well. Every few months they have laid people off. We think they want to close it down."

Transport and General railway branch chairman and Eastleigh council Labour group leader Councillor Peter Luffman said: "It is another sad sign of the failure of Alstom to pick up major contracts for coach repair work within the railway network.

"Because management are not achieving their aims and getting the contracts that they expected, the men are taking the consequences."

He added that he wished Alstom well in securing a contract which would keep the Eastleigh works open for many years.

Eastleigh council chief executive Chris Tapp said: "Loss of employment in the local economy is sad news, particularly when it involves one of the town's major industrial employers.

"The council has established a reputation for supporting businesses and with its partners will be doing all it can to help Alstom and its employees."