I am delighted to be able to share the good news coming from Hitachi Rail in Newton Aycliffe today that a new phase of train building is starting this morning. Hitachi Rail has continued preparing their facility throughout Covid-19 to make ready for this new phase manufacturing 100% Electric Intercity trains for East Coast Trains Ltd.
The first five fully electric Class 803 trains will begin carrying passengers between Edinburgh and London from Autumn 2021.
These trains will travel entirely in electric mode, resulting in ZERO-EMISSION Intercity travel. HitachiRail are due to build more Intercity orders this year.
Ross Nagle, the COO Rolling Stock UK, Hitachi Rail, said:
“Building these East Coast Trains signifies a new and exciting chapter for Hitachi Rail’s UK factory.
“It is an important step as we increase our manufacturing capabilities and upskill our workforce at Newton Aycliffe, which includes a £8.5m investment in new welding and painting facilities.
“The increased skills of our workforce makes us well placed to deliver a number of highly significant orders over the next 12 months, and consolidate our place as a strategic North East manufacturing hub.”
This is excellent news for Newton Aycliffe and the surrounding area, HitachiRail have secured these orders, continued to provide significant employment, upskilled their workforce, adapted to current circumstances AND now building 100% Electric, helping significant steps toward the #NetZero goal.