The livelihoods and jobs of hundreds of people are still on the line at Hitachi in Newton Aycliffe. As part of our Northern Echo manifesto, we think it's time for the next government to step in and secure its future.

Nearly three full months have lapsed since bosses at rail manufacturer Hitachi first raised concerns for its future in late March. An order of 56 trains remained on the books for the West Coast mainline after discussions with the government to prevent a production gap had "not resulted in a positive resolution".

Despite having a contract to produce HS2 trains in the coming years, Hitachi stated that they need a new order to fill its books to avoid a devastating crisis which could result in job losses or even worse, closure.

Despite opening in a blaze of glory in 2015 following extensive campaigning by former Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson and The Northern Echo, the future of Hitachi is less clear than ever.

It was dubbed as a “fantastic example of world-class manufacturing” in 2023 by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - but the factory cannot operate if, indeed, there are no trains to build at all.

Over the past few months, suggestions of how to keep the factory afloat have been put on the table - yet none have so far succeeded.

Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh previously urged the government to secure the site’s future “with the stroke of a pen” and extend its current order - this cannot be done, responded transport minister Mark Harper.

Sedgefield MP from 2019, Paul Howell, affirmed in late March in an article for the Echo that "anything that can be done" should be done to save the site and has raised the Hitachi issue  in the House of Commons since.

Fast forward to June 2024 and we are still waiting for answers. 

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In spite of the many voices of high profile politicians - including Tony Blair, Sir Keir Starmer and former transport secretary Justine Greening  - the future of Hitachi and the prospect of trains built in the North East continuing to barrel down rail tracks remains at a standstill. Where do we go from here?

As part of our manifesto, we don't just want to keep Hitachi on track - we want the next government whoever they may be, to join us in this promise of security to not just the current workers at the site, but the next generation of young girls and boys growing up in Newton Aycliffe.

The choice is clear - do we save Hitachi or do we let a shining beacon of North East manufacturing be lost forever?