FOLLOWING the government's announcement that Hitachi Rail in Newton Aycliffe has won a £2bn contract to build 54 HS2 trains in its factory, Transport Secretary has written an Op-Ed for The Northern Echo about the momentous deal:
It may not be well known to the people of Newton Aycliffe, but this post-war new town, built in the Durham countryside on the site of a Second World War ammunition factory, was once considered a model for Utopia.
It was the creation of William Beveridge, architect of the modern welfare state, who wanted a showcase for his idea of a society rid of poor health, housing and education - a fine example of his New Jerusalem.
Read more: Pictures: Inside the Hitachi factory in Aycliffe that will build new HS2 trains
Newton Aycliffe has experienced its share of good and bad economic news since its foundation in 1946. But it's people are adaptable. And as though some industries have been lost, so others have taken their place.
And today, we celebrate a truly great moment in the town's blossoming Hitachi train building enterprise - a £2 billion contract to construct next-generation, high-speed trains for the HS2 super-fast network.
In a few short years we will see the first of HS2’s state-of-the art train fleet, designed for speeds of up to 225mph, roll off the production line. And they will have been entirely designed and assembled on home soil, including right here in Northern communities.
HS2 will transform rail travel in this country, but crucially it will also build opportunity and boost the economy through national regeneration and the widespread creation and support of jobs.
A joint venture involving Alstom and Hitachi, this very contract announced today will help to create and support 2,500 jobs across the north east and midlands and, is a great example of our Plan for Jobs in action, designing and building dozens of new high speed trains and supporting their maintenance.
Given this country’s commitment to Net Zero it’s important to also note that the trains will be the fastest and lowest carbon per passenger km trains of their kind in the UK, minimising environmental impacts and helping de-carbonise transport.
Today is also another example of the continuing momentum behind the HS2 project and is a tangible example of the progress we are making with our long-term plans for upgrading our rail network through the Integrated Rail Plan.
Last month, I set out our plan for the railways that provides the best value-for-money for the British taxpayer while also making quick and meaningful change for those across the country.
High speed lines will transform connections from the North to Scotland, the Midlands and down to London. The electrified and upgraded Midland, TransPennine and East Coast lines will be greener, more reliable, and faster.
Today in Newton Aycliffe is a major step forward for this national project and another example of the country levelling up and building back better after the pandemic with the promising years ahead of high-tech manufacturing and high quality jobs.
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