By Martin Walker
Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson, who played a huge part in realising the Hitachi dream, has told Aycliffe Today it represents a “truly monumental deal” for Newton Aycliffe and the region.
Hitachi Rail Europe’s initial £77m factory on Amazon Park, which is expected to be open for business in 2014, will bring 200 jobs in its construction and more than 500 full-time jobs once completed, with thousands more in the supply chain.
Mr Wilson campaigned tirelessly to keep the Hitachi plan on track, with support from the Federation of Small Business, North East Chamber of Commerce, the Northern TUC, UNITE, the Northern Echo, MPs and thousands of people, as Aycliffe beat off no less than 42 other proposed locations for the train-building facility.
The Labour MP told Aycliffe Today: “This marks what could be the beginning of a new business era for Newton Aycliffe, Tees Valley, County Durham and the North-East.
“It has the potential to be the new Nissan for the region, and I think in future we’ll look back at this day as one of the most important and historic days in terms of business and economy.
“I’d like to thank all those who joined the campaign to ensure Hitachi came to Newton Aycliffe.
“The ambitions of Hitachi Rail Europe are in the name. The company wants to build trains in Newton Aycliffe and export them to the rest of Europe.
“We knew it was coming, I had no doubt we’d get it across the line, but it’s fantastic news to hear it officially confirmed, as I know Hitachi are keen to start work straight away.”
Mr Wilson added: “Hitachi selected Newton Aycliffe for its new factory because of the skills of the local people, the connection to the East Coast mainline and the fact that the new trains will enter the rail network along the route originally used by George Stephenson over 187 years ago in 1825.
“It would seem train-building has now gone full circle, and the whole Hitachi package represents a truly monumental deal for the town and region.
“The Coalition now needs to devise other job-creating initiatives to get the country out of the double-dip recession they have created.”
We brought you extensive coverage from Hitachi’s construction open day, held at the Xcel Centre on Aycliffe Business Park a month ago, with exclusive interviews and the opening speeches from all the key people.