£500m Hitachi Train Deal Secures Hundreds of Jobs at County Durham Factory

The contract with FirstGroup guarantees work for 700 employees, but concerns linger over the future of HS2’s northern leg.

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.