Hitachi Rail Europe (HRE) rolled out the first Intercity Express (IEP) train built in the UK at its manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
The first train leaving Hitachi’s UK production line marks a major milestone ahead of the introduction of the Intercity Express, the £5.7bn (EUR 6.7 bn) Government-funded programme to modernise UK intercity travel. By the end of the programme, Hitachi will have supplied 122 modern intercity trains for passengers travelling on the Great Western and East Coast main lines, offering vastly improved levels of capacity, reliability and comfort.
In addition to building new fleets, Hitachi will maintain the trains at newly built facilities. By 2020 Hitachi will become one of the largest maintainer of UK trains. In total Hitachi will have 281 trains running on the UK network, carrying millions of passengers along intercity and commuter routes.
“This first train to roll out of Hitachi’s new factory in Newton Aycliffe shows we are open for business and will provide a real economic boost to the North East, not only by providing jobs but also by investing in the skills needed to provide the transport network our country needs for the future,” Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said.
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