Hundreds of Newton Aycliffe jobs have been safeguarded after a £300m order for new trains was placed at Hitachi’s plant.
Sunderland’s Arriva Group has announced the order for nine battery hybrid trains after it was announced that its Grand Central service – which runs trains from Sunderland and Bradford to London – had been allowed to continue operations until 2038.
The contract for the trains helps secure jobs at the Hitachi plant on Aycliffe Business Park, which were reportedly at risk last year due to a lack of orders.
The more environmentally-friendly trains have been developed in the North East and will provide 20% more seats than the current services. That will allow up to 400,000 more journeys per year.
It follows a similar deal for First Group and its Lumo service that was announced at the end of last year.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Just four months since the Prime Minister and I welcomed a significant deal for Hitachi and its workforce in Newton Aycliffe, this new £300m investment marks yet another step forward in securing the future of rail manufacturing in the North-East.
“Not only will this new battery technology deliver greener journeys for passengers, but it will also boost skills for the workforce and futureproof jobs here in Newton Aycliffe as we continue to deliver a railway fit for the 21st century.”
North-East mayor Kim McGuinness said “This is great news for Hitachi and its highly skilled workforce, showing there’s real confidence in advanced manufacturing in North-East.
“I’m so proud to say that in the very near future, the entire Grand Central fleet which links Sunderland to York and London will have been proudly built in our region.”
The new trains will cut emissions and fuel consumption by around 30%, entering and exiting stations in zero-emission battery mod to improve air quality and reduce noise.
Arrival and Grand Central are hoping to add more routes to their services, which could lead to orders for more trains.
Amanda Furlong, managing director of Arriva UK Trains, said: “This major investment underscores our commitment to the UK market.
“We are proud to connect under-served communities with regional and national centres, helping make sustainable train travel the easy choice.
“These best-in-class, greener trains will deliver more comfortable journeys and a step-change in capacity on our popular Grand Central services.
“We look forward to announcing further rolling stock orders, providing jobs and wider economic benefits, as and when our network grows.”
Jim Brewin, Hitachi Rail chief director of UK and Ireland, said: “As we celebrate 200 years since the birth of the modern railway in the North-East, it’s symbolic that innovative battery trains are being developed in Newton Aycliffe.
“Battery trains’ ability to deliver cheaper, greener and more reliable journeys means we are unlocking a new advanced manufacturing opportunity for rail today.
“Following the successful trial of this pioneering battery technology last year, Arriva and Angel Trains are transforming Hitachi’s £17m research and development investment into the first battery train order to be built in the UK.”