Talks to save Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory are ongoing with a “range of options” being discussed as its future remains hanging in the balance nine years to the day since it opened.
The factory’s opening on September 3, 2015 was hailed a landmark development for the North East securing the future of train building in the region, which birthed the railways 200 years ago next year.
But its future faces uncertainty with a fast-approaching gap in the order book before work starts on HS2 trains putting its future, and hundreds of jobs, at risk.
Talks are ongoing between the Government and Japanese train builder with a range of options said to be on the table.
This newspaper first reported in March that the factory was reaching crisis point with dwindling orders. If no new orders are found hundreds of its 750-strong workforce could be laid off or the plant even closed in the next 12 months.
The Northern Echo has been calling for months for the Government to step in to save the Newton Aycliffe plant teetering on the edge, which also supports 1,400 other local jobs, by extending a contract for West Coast Mainline trains.
During the election campaign Labour backed our Northern Echo Manifesto, which included stepping in to save Hitachi, and our ‘Keep Hitachi on Track’ campaign was backed by now-PM Sir Keir Starmer, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Mayor McGuinness said on Tuesday (September 3): "I am in constant contact with the Secretary of State and the Department for Transport (DfT) about the future of Hitachi. I know the DfT understand how important Hitachi is to the North East and our rail industry.”
She added that the a “broad range of options are being considered” as part of a package to safeguard the factory in talks involving the DfT, Hitachi and her North East combined authority.
Meanwhile Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor MP Alan Strickland said he is "determined to keep fighting to secure the future of the factory".
"I am really proud that we've had the world-class Hitachi Rail plant in Aycliffe now for 9 years," he said.
" This is testament to the excellent campaign led by the Northern Echo and former Labour MP Phil Wilson at the time."
A DfT spokesperson added the government will work “swiftly” to secure the factory’s future.
They said: “The Transport Secretary is committed to supporting rail manufacturing in the U.K. and developing a long-term strategy to secure the industry's sustainable future.
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“We know how important rail manufacturing is to this region, which is why this Government won’t sit on our hands.
“The Department for Transport will work swiftly with Hitachi over the coming months on options to safeguard jobs and secure a sustainable future for manufacturing at Newton Aycliffe.”
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