Hitachi Rail Europe is set to open its new rolling stock manufacturing and assembly plant in the UK, in September. The new £82m plant in Newton Aycliffe is the first European train factory of Hitachi Rail.
The new manufacturing and assembly plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham is being developed to support the DfT-led Intercity Express Programme and future Hitachi Rail projects. It is the first train manufacturing plant built in the UK for decades, bringing hope that one of the country’s oldest industries can be revived.
In addition to the manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe, Hitachi Rail Europe is heavily investing in upgrading existing depots and building new facilities.
A total of 866 Class 800/801 train carriages will be built at the Newton Aycliffe site, destined to run on the East Coast Main Line from 2018.The trains have been ordered by the Department of Transport for its Intercity Express Programme (IEP), which will see Agility Trains (a consortium of Hitachi and John Laing) finance, deliver and subsequently maintain the trains for 27.5 years.
Hitachi Rail Europe is also contracted as the supplier of trains to Abellio’s ScotRail programme. The majority of the 70 AT200 commuter trains (46 three-car trains and 24 four-car trains) will be built at Newton Aycliffe.
The first trains from the factory will enter service on the Great Western Main Line in 2017.
Photo: http://www.hitachirail-eu.com
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