UK: Hitachi Opens New Building at Newton Aycliffe Manufacturing Facility

Newton Aycliffe Manufacturing Facility © Hitachi

Hitachi Rail Europe has opened a new building at its factory in the UK. The extension of its Newton Aycliffe Manufacturing Facility in County Durham cost the company £5 million and increased its total investment in the site to over £100 million.

The Newton Aycliffe factory builds intercity and commuter trains that incorporate Japanese bullet-train technology in the design. It produced the Azuma fleet for the East Coast Main Line as part of the British government’s Intercity Express Programme.

Ross Nagle, Chief Operating Officer for Manufacturing at Hitachi, said:

“Our train-building team are delivering truly world-class trains to run across the country, and this new building is another step in Newton Aycliffe’s development. We are proud [to] add a new chapter to the region’s rail heritage and seeing our long-term investment making a real impact to manufacturing in the North.”

Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, who opened the new building, said:

“The ripple effect of Hitachi’s investment is being felt across the North East, for every one job created by them an additional 1.5 are created nearby. I’ll be working hard to help Hitachi win more orders, which will not only support train-building jobs, but also thousands more in the regional supply chain.”

The manufacturer is working with the government to deliver its ‘Northern Powerhouse’ industrial strategy. Hitachi employs 730 people at Newton Aycliffe and uses a British supply chain totalling 1,166 different companies. 70% of parts for new intercity trains originate from within 40 miles of the factory and in 2017 Hitachi spent £20 million on them.

Hitachi, which is set to have fifteen operating sites in the UK in the near future, held a competition for the naming of this building. It was won by Phil Lloyd, a member of staff at the manufacturing facility, who submitted the entry ‘Aspire’.