News & Events

Hitachi Rail: New opportunities for North East businesses

Hitachi Rail Project

Following the UK Government’s recent announcement, Hitachi Rail Europe has confirmed, subject to finalising commercial agreements, it is to locate its UK train manufacturing facility at Amazon Park, Newton Aycliffe - a major success for Newcastle upon Tyne-based Merchant Place Developments (MPD) who own the site in partnership with Durham County Council.

A massive 450,000 sq ft train assembly building will be provided for Hitachi as a turn-key project on a 31.5 acre site. MPD director, Geoff Hunton, said “This will be a world-class building, developed and funded by MPD and delivered to Hitachi for immediate use on a turn-key basis for a 25 year initial period of train manufacturing.”

It is expected that full scale production will commence in 2015, and that the first trains will be delivered into service in 2016.

This announcement has sparked considerable interest from companies and organisations throughout the North East and beyond who feel they have a role to play in the supply chain for this development.

Consequently, County Durham Development Company, the strategic investment arm of Durham County Council, has been asked by Hitachi Rail to manage expressions of interest in this project on behalf of Merchant Place Developments and Hitachi by inviting companies to register their interest on this website only.

www.hitachirailproject.co.uk