Hitachi: Officials 'working hard and at pace' on saviour bid

The future of the plant - hailed as a landmark development for the region when it opened in 2015 - was left uncertain earlier this year after a production gap left hundreds of jobs at the site hanging in the balance. 

The Northern Echo, which has been campaigning for the Government to step in and save Hitachi since March, reported this month that talks remained ongoing between officials and the Japanese train builder, with a range of options on the table. 

However, fears still remain, with dwindling orders continuing to spark concerns that its 750-strong workforce could soon be laid off, and the site closed.

Inside the Hitachi factory in Newton Aycliffe (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Now, Defence Secretary John Healey has spoken out on the situation on a visit to Newton Aycliffe’s Coherent factory on Friday (September 27), which is located just 1km away from Hitachi, as the Government steps in to acquire the site saving 100 jobs. 

He told The Northern Echo: “I really feel for the workforce there because this has been going on for months, if not years, that uncertainty. 

“So there is a new government, we are 10 weeks into office, and there are really active negotiations now going on led by the Department of Transport.”

Meanwhile, Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor MP Alan Strickland, who pledged to protect the Hitachi factory in July, today said people are “working as fast and as hard as they can”.

Defence Minister John Healey MP visited Coherent in Newton Aycliffe this week. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

He added: “The government has been really active in this factory and John's leadership has been exceptional. 

“Similarly at Hitachi, there are active negotiations ongoing with the government. I led a delegation of North East MPs to the factory the week after the election, and a few weeks after that we met Louise Haigh, the transport secretary.

“Louise’s officials are working really hard - and at pace - with Hitachi senior management and as MPs from the region, we continue to push for progress. 

Defence Minister John Healey MP and Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor MP Alan Strickland (Image: Stuart Boulton)

“They're in the midst of complex commercial negotiations at the moment, everyone is working as fast and as hard as they can. 

“As local MPs, we will keep the pressure on, but I know DfT ministers and officials are working really hard with the Hitachi senior management team.”

In March, The Echo reported how the factory was at crisis point, meaning if no new orders were found jobs could be laid off or the plant closed as early as within the next 12 months.

A Hitachi train in Newton Aycliffe

Our ‘Keep Hitachi on Track’ campaign asked the Government to step in by extending a contract for West Coast Mainline trains - and was previously backed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Just this week, Darlington MP Lola McEvoy and Stockton South MP Chris McDonald said they had been in high-level talks with Hitachi management and unions at a BUSINESSIQ event at Darlington's Cummins Engine Plant. 

Mr McDonald said they are working to bring the issue to prominence in the "corridors of power" and emphasised it is greater than simply "a gap in the order book."

Recommended reading:

• Up to 100 jobs secured at County Durham factory after MoD chiefs step in
• Petition launched to return rapid response contract to 'sanctuary' St Teresa's
• 'Significant interest' from UK-based investor in Darlington Binns building

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access for 1 month for just £1. Click here.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The Transport Secretary is committed to supporting rail manufacturing in the UK and developing a long-term strategy to secure the industry's sustainable future.

“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 is working at pace with Hitachi on options to safeguard jobs and secure a sustainable future for manufacturing at Newton Aycliffe.”