Overview

• Hitachi's Newton Aycliffe plant in County Durham will produce 14 new trains under a £500m deal with FirstGroup, safeguarding 700 jobs.
• The trains, designed for routes such as Carmarthen-London and East Coast Mainline services, will feature battery-electric or bi-mode technology.
• An additional £460m investment for 13 more trains is possible if further service expansions are approved.
• Hitachi executives warn that job security at the plant depends on increased demand, including the potential revival of HS2’s scrapped northern leg.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted the deal as a commitment to infrastructure and manufacturing, though he has not committed to reinstating the northern HS2 route.