£500m plan aims to build more trains in England and save 700 jobs | United Kingdom | News
An ambitious £500m plan to build 14 extra trains at a Hitachi factory in County Durham could save hundreds of jobs as the new investment takes shape. British transport group First Group, leasing company Angel Trains and Hitachi have reached an agreement to order 14 five-car trains which will run in 2027 on the new Carmarthen-London route and the East Coast Mainline service, reports Sky News.
The plan is expected to save 700 jobs thanks to the huge investment for the Newton Aycliffe site. A lull in orders at the Hitachi factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, had already raised concerns about the future of the site and its employees.
The contract to build the five-car Hitachi Class 80X electric or dual-mode trains has been agreed between FirstGroup, Hitachi and Angel Trains, with delivery expected to begin in 2027.
A further investment of £460 million for 13 five-car trains is an option for the factory.
Jim Brewin, chief director of Hitachi Rail in the UK and Ireland, said the contract was “a positive step forward” and “a simple recognition of the hard work and patience of our teams”.
He said: “We look forward to once again catering to Hull Trains and Lumo passengers who will further benefit from our award-winning British-built trains. »
During the general election campaign, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited the factory and said workers were “at risk of devastating job losses”.
Talk to BBC Regarding the factory, the prime minister called its workforce “world class” and said the deal had eased concerns felt by employees in recent months.
He said: “I stood before them the last time I was here and said to them: if we win the election and form a government, I give you my word, we will do everything we can to try to ensure that There is an agreement to fill this gap and take away this anxiety.
“It’s really good for building trains, it’s really good for the country but, on a human level, it’s so important for them, their families, all the communities here that depend on these jobs.”
Graham Sutherland, CEO of FirstGroup, said the deal would support Britain’s manufacturing industry and “give customers more choice when considering affordable and environmentally friendly ways to travel”.
Angel Trains added that this was the first such announcement in six years.
