The £82 million Hitachi factory in Newton Aycliffe began building trains in 2015. The first factory Hitachi built in Europe, the plant keeps 750 people in work on-site, alongside another 1,400 jobs indirectly. Hitachi in the North East contributes more than £400million to the UK economy and is a key part of the region’s status as a manufacturing powerhouse.
Now its reported the future of the factory is at risk with order books for new trains running dry. Hitachi has the order for 52 new HS2 trains for the London to Birmingham route but the first train isn't expected to roll off the production line until 2027, leaving a gap in production.
In 2020 the Newton Aycliffe factory controversially missed out on a £700m contract with Nexus for the delivery and maintenance of 42 new trains to serve the Tyne and Wear Metro.
Conservative candidate for the new North East Mayor, Guy Renner-Thompson, says it's that decision which has put the factories future in doubt. He says "It was absolute madness for the contract for the new Metro trains to go to a Swiss company. That decision was made by Labour council leaders in Tyne and Wear and the North of Mayor at the time, Jamie Driscoll, sat back and did nothing about it.
Creating and keeping hold of local jobs must be our No.1 priority. The value of those jobs to the local economy for outstrips any savings in getting the trains a few quid cheaper.
If elected Mayor I will have a local jobs first policy in all major projects and be a voice for the North East singing from the rooftops about our fantastic industries here in the North East who are ready to export around the globe"
At the time of the Metro announcement Conservative Mayor for Tees Valley Ben Houchen slammed the decision saying it would cost jobs across the North. Conservative MP for Sedgefield, which contains Newton Aycliffe, said he was 'absolutely devastated' following a decision to give the Metro contract to an overseas firm.
Sedgefield MP 'devastated' by Tyne and Wear Metro announcement | The Northern Echo
