New train building deal announced for Newton Aycliffe's Hitachi plant
A multimillion pound train building deal for the North East has been struck - promising to protect hundreds of jobs in County Durham and further afield
A multimillion pound train building deal for the North East has been struck - promising to protect hundreds of jobs in County Durham and further afield.
FirstGroup, Hitachi and Angel Trains have struck a deal to build 14 state-of-the-art trains to be used on rail lines across the UK, as part of a £500 million deal that will uplift the industrial heartlands, and boost rail services for passengers across the UK.
The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said:
“Our Plan for Change has set out ambitious milestones that will deliver real improvement in people’s lives – raising living standards across the country.
“That means taking grown-up approach to business and using the heft of Government to solve problems, not create them. Getting people in the room to have the hard conversations which have been ducked for years.
“That approach is paying off. Not only has it saved jobs, but it has given business the certainty and stability they need to thrive.
“Today’s announcement is a case in point. We helped secure a deal that will help protect hundreds of jobs, keep this business ticking, and improve rail services.
”I made a promise to the workforce of the Newton Aycliffe factory and today, I’m delivering on that promise.
The agreement will deliver 14 new five-car class 80X Hitachi electric or bi-mode trains (a total of 70 cars). Delivery of the new trains is expected to commence in late 2027. In addition, the agreement provides FirstGroup the options to lease up to a further 13 five-car trains, should their recently submitted other open access applications be successful.
The deal has been welcomed by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness,
Responding to the announcement, she said:
“When I stood to be Mayor, I went on a tour of the Hitachi factory and heard from workers on the floor that their number one need of a mayor was to protect their jobs now, and protect the future of train building in our region.
“Immediately after the General Election I wrote to the Prime Minister with a set of asks to back the North East. Hitachi was top of that list.
“Six months on, we have delivered.
“I’ve been fighting hard behind the scenes with Hitachi to find a solution. We’ve spoken every week since I took office, and I’ve taken every opportunity to lobby Government ministers, and twist the arm of the rail industry to invest in our workers and region.
“I'm delighted they have listened. Today shows the power of what we can achieve when we stand together, and that our great North East has bright days ahead of us. We finally have a government on our side, and working with me to make the North East the home of real opportunity.”