Bombardier’s announcement this morning had been expected for some days now, and indeed some thought the news could be even worse.

But that is no consolation to the hardworking people whose jobs will go or become much less secure because of the train manufacturer’s diminishing order book, and the vicious cycle that will ensue that could dent its chances of ever again winning a major rolling stock order.

It is a bleak day for UK rail manufacturing, and the best that can be hoped for is that work associated with the two big recent contracts, Hitachi’s IEP and Siemens’ Thameslink orders, filters through to Derby and the East Midlands, or that an unexpected order from abroad arrives in the nick of time.

Attempts by Philip Hammond and Vince Cable to deal with the issue of huge contracts disappearing will have no impact in the short term, and even in the long term it is unclear how they will get round the glaring facts of EU competition law.

Whatever happens, our thoughts go out to those in Derby dealing with this news today.