RE: Honda confirms closure of Swindon plant

[m444ttb]

aeropilot said:

Sadly, the population of Swindon will suffer the same as Oxford and Birmingham/Coventry did 40 years ago (unless BMW offer a lifeline)

Sadly it's the same again for Swindon with the railway works having finally shut it's doors in 1986. Honda came along not too long after that but I can't see something similar happening this time.

I wouldn't be surprised if the only thing the Honda factory site ends up being used for is another large housing estate.

[aeropilot]

m444ttb said:

aeropilot said:

Sadly, the population of Swindon will suffer the same as Oxford and Birmingham/Coventry did 40 years ago (unless BMW offer a lifeline)

Sadly it's the same again for Swindon with the railway works having finally shut it's doors in 1986. Honda came along not too long after that but I can't see something similar happening this time.

True.
I'd forgotten all about the massive rail works in Swindon and when it shutdown in relation to the Honda plant starting
For some reason I had it in mind the huge rail works closed down back in the late 60's after Beeching's axe fell on the rail network, and the end of steam.

[Veg]

Honda made their decision based on falling sales and these can't support the factory. Falling sales come from 2 areas: their designs and tech aren't up to scratch; we closed off the EU market as there is a real risk of tariffs eroding margins too much. So no Brexit isn't direct the reason , that's sales but it is a reason for falling sales protections. And each car costs £500 to ship from Japan which makes that a costly option. Answers to Honda on a post card.....

[m444ttb]

aeropilot said:

True.
I'd forgotten all about the massive rail works in Swindon and when it shutdown in relation to the Honda plant starting
For some reason I had it in mind the huge rail works closed down back in the late 60's after Beeching's axe fell on the rail network, and the end of steam.

I’m not sure how many worked there by the time it closed. Some way down from the heyday of 14,000 in the inter-war years I think. A significant blow to the town’s workforce nonetheless and a blow to the town psychologically as it was at the core of Swindon’s identity.