Hitachi Rail’s investment at its County Durham factory – which has now reached £110 million – has seen the installation of bespoke £8.5 million welding and painting facilities will be used to build the next generation of intercity trains for East Midlands Railway and Avanti West Coast.
Around 40 staff and newly graduated welders and painters will be completing the high-tech aluminium carriage shells, which are a signature of Hitachi’s intercity fleets. This on-shoring of crucial high-value aspects of the manufacturing process is further evidence of Hitachi Rail’s long-term commitment to the region. It is also the first time in decades that a new train welding facility has been created in Britain, with over 230 carriages due to be welded at Newton Aycliffe.
The investment has also involved an extensive upskilling programme for staff and apprentices, including an eight-week initial training programme for welding certification, then further training to obtain additional specialist qualifications. This has created a new skills-base that will benefit the workforce and the factory, delivering current and future projects.
The firm established its highly advanced North East manufacturing base, with its 700 strong workforce, in 2015, to build 122 pioneering trains as part of the Government’s Intercity Express programme, along with 70 zero-emission Class 385 regional trains for Scotland.
Since then, Hitachi Rail has focused on localising its supply chain in the UK where is has already spent £1.8 billion since 2013 with over 130 separate North East suppliers. The new manufacturing capabilities at the factory are allowing Hitachi Rail to further expand its UK supply chain. New domestic suppliers include AES in Glasgow, Airblast in Peterborough and KM Tools in Stoke-on-Trent.
Meanwhile, the expansion in scope of Newton Aycliffe has resulted in Hitachi Rail increasing its existing relationship with North East firms such as Dyer Engineering and Hydram Engineering.
Jim Brewin, head of UK & Ireland, at Hitachi Rail, said: “The £110 million we have now invested at Newton Aycliffe is not only a sign of our continued commitment to the North East of England but also British manufacturing and its supply chain.
“At the heart of our commitment is the continued development of a highly skilled and dynamic workforce, which through our South Durham Technical University College partnership and 70 apprenticeships will drive the rail industry forward at home and abroad for many years to come.”
The new welding and painting facility will allow the North East factory to be more globally competitive, with the capacity to export a wide range of products from metros to commuter and high-speed trains.
Target markets include northern Europe and the Middle East, with the firm’s increasing leadership in battery trains broadening potential opportunities.
Last year Hitachi Rail partnered with Hyperdrive Innovation to develop battery packs that can power trains and help the UK meet its net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050. This partnership helps create a pathway for batteries to be installed at Newton Aycliffe and could also make the North East a hub for battery technology.