New trains must be built in the UK, urges Unite
THE Unite union has urged Government to bring forward new train-building contracts and make sure they are awarded to companies manufacturing in the UK.
The call was made on January 30, after it signed a deal for Hitachi to recognise the union at its Newton Aycliffe facility (covering 730 jobs).
The union has written to Secretary of State for Transport Chis Grayling, warning that the lack of future orders “puts long-term investment, jobs and skills at risk along with our capacity to build desperately needed rolling stock here in the UK in the future”.
Unite Assistant General Secretary Steve Turner wrote: “In addition to hundreds of high-value, high-quality jobs created in the North East, Hitachi has invested over £100 million in its UK factory, and has spent over £628m with over 1,168 suppliers across the country. The company has also created a long-term skills legacy through investment in the nearby South Durham University Technical College. However, without a commitment to supporting UK manufacturing from government, these are under threat, too.
“Given the above, I am today calling on the Government to support the long-term investment commitments of UK-based manufacturers. With government investment in rolling stock and rail network development already long overdue, particularly across our northern networks, there is the potential for long-term stability in the sector securing jobs and skills alongside apprenticeships at all UK factories.”
As it stands, the County Durham site has contracts to assemble Class 385 electric multiple units for ScotRail, and Class 800 bi-mode and Class 801 EMUs for LNER. All but the final ‘801s’ will finish this year, with no further confirmed contracts.
Hitachi is bidding for the Tyne & Wear and HS2 contracts, and is interested in future tenders such as for West Coast Partnership, East Midlands and Southeastern.
There are currently two operational factories in the UK: Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe facility and Bombardier’s at Derby Litchurch Lane.
CAF is building a factory near Newport and has confirmed that trains for Transport for Wales will be built there, while trains for HS2 will also be built there if it secures that contract. The Spanish manufacturer is also interested in light rail, and is looking to complete work on trains for Northern at the site.
Alstom’s facility at Widnes is currently not capable of building trains. However, that forms part of the long-term plan for the site, and Alstom is also bidding for the HS2 contract.
Siemens has confirmed it will build a factory in Goole. It is working with Transport for London regarding how many Piccadilly Line trains will be built there, having won a contract for 94 trains last year.
Spanish manufacturer Talgo is also planning to build a facility at Longannet (Scotland), and is bidding for the HS2 deal while showing interest in the West Coast Partnership and East Midlands contracts. It has also spoken about exporting from the site.