The Hitachi factory in Newton Aycliffe is at the forefront of green technology as new battery-powered train trails are set to start next year.
Engineers at the North East factory are working on replacing a diesel train engine with a battery pack to power an Hitachi train across the Pennines using electricity.
The trials are expected to start in the spring and will mark a key moment for the Newton Aycliffe plant as Hitachi continues its push towards green energy.
Jim Brewin, chief director for Hitachi UK and Ireland, said he was ‘incredibly proud’ of the work being done at the Newton Aycliffe plant.
He said: “Everything we do at Hitachi now is linked to either green technology or digital capabilities.
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“We’ve got a trial that we’re due to start throughout next year which is taking a diesel engine off one of our existing trains already in passenger operation and we will replace that with a battery pack to trial and test.
“That’s going to be done across the Pennines so the exciting thing, the future that we are looking at is really, is about battery trains and green technology, with net zero being the target and energy efficiency being the ambition.
“We’re asking, can we reduce the total energy used on the railway? Which would ultimately save governments and customers money and give passengers a wonderful experience.
“So that’s where our vision is, that’s what we are passionate about and certainly battery technology will be part of our future.”
Mr Brewin admitted that the factory had weathered some difficult times since the Covid pandemic and the current hike in energy prices, but he said the Newton Aycliffe operation is in a healthy place.
He said: “The cost of energy and the impact of Covid on our supply chain has had an impact on our operations, but I think what you can see today is that every area of the factory is fully operational.
“The team are inspirational in my view in what they do, they are very passionate.
“You’ve got trains in weld, paint, assembly, test at the minute and we’re very hopeful that in the next few days the first Avanti West Coast train will actually leave the factory and go for dynamic tests.
“So yes, I think with things going on in the world, it has been a difficult period these last few years but we are certainly working through that as best we possibly can.”
And Mr Brewin highlighted the positive economic contribution the Aycliffe factory has made to the North East region since it officially opened in September 2015.
He said: “Over the last seven years since it opened we have spent £2.2billion in the UK supply chain.
“We have got 960 suppliers locally and 40 per cent of the content that we actually build here comes from the UK supply chain and the majority of that is the North East.
“So it’s important for the region in terms of the jobs it creates, the wider jobs it creates in the local supply chain and what it gives the community.
“It’s extremely important for the local region and we are very proud to be here in County Durham and the North East.”
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