‘This is going to be an iconic train – we want to build it’
Hitachi shortlisted for HS2 train contract
Reporter WINNING a £2.75bn contract to build trains for the HS2 high-speed rail line would secure jobs in the North East, manufacturing giant Hitachi has pledged.
Hitachi has been shortlisted to build trains for the line, as part of a joint bid with manufacturers Bombardier.
The work would be divided between Hitachi’s plants in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and Bombardier’s plant in Derby.
As well as safeguarding jobs at the two sites, the firms say they have a policy of using British suppliers, which would mean jobs are created in the supply chain.
And winning the contract would be a huge boost for local economies, according to Hitachi Rail spokesman David Meechan.
He said: “We both have our two established factories in the UK. We’ve got people working there now. We want to protect those jobs. We want to invest in those sites, and we want to develop our businesses in the UK.
“This is a real flagship contract for us. This is going to be an iconic train that will be recognised around the world, and we want to build it.”
Mr Meechan was speaking from Italy, where Hitachi and Bombardier were demonstrating their high-speed Frecciarossa 1000 train - or Red Arrow in English.
It has a top speed of 360kmh and runs on the Italian high-speed rail network.
The two businesses say it’s evidence that they have the skills and capacity to build successful high-speed trains.
Hitachi Rail senior manufacturing engineer, Richard Roof, said: “It’s an example of what Hitachi and Bombardier can build together.
“A train of this design and speed is what we are trying to build and bring to the UK.”
Other firms bidding for the work include Siemens, Alstom and Patentes Talgo.
The rival firms have already been shortlisted after setting out preliminary bids.
They will submit their full proposals in March 2019 and a final winner is due to be announced in December next year.
Initially, HS2 Ltd will buy 57 trains. But this is only for phase one, running between London and Birmingham, due to open in 2026.
It’s expected that more trains will be ordered for phase two, running to Manchester, Leeds and (via existing rail lines) to Newcastle, which will be open by 203233.
Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory is busy until 2020. The site’s 800 permanent staff are currently working on trains including vehicles for the Great Western Railway and TransPennine Express.
However, winning the HS2 contract would ensure that there is work once the current contracts end.
Mr Meechan said: “Our team, Bombardier and Hitachi, are putting together a design based on the customer’s current specification.
“But when the eventual winner is announced in around March 2020, that’s when the real design work starts. We have a two-year process where our companies would work with HS2, the Department for Transport and the franchise operator.
“So then it’s very much a collaborative design process to work out what we can do.” The Frecciarossa had been a success in Italy, he said. “We want to show people look this is what we can do, this train is fantastic. We want to bring this level of style and comfort to the UK for British passengers.” DAVID MEECHAN Winning the HS2 contract would create work at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory once current contracts end