Hitachi factory to build £300m train fleet
ArrivaA rail operator's entire fleet is to be replaced with nine battery hybrid trains made in the north of England.
The trains, made up of 45 rail cars, will be manufactured at Hitachi Rail's factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, for Grand Central.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Labour, visited the factory to announce the order, which she said would deliver greener journeys for passengers and futureproof local jobs.
Durham County Council leader Liberal Democrat Amanda Hopgood said she was delighted by the news of the contract and providing quality local jobs was one of the council's key priorities.
The order is a boon for the factory, where it was previously feared a lack of orders could lead to 700 jobs being put at risk.
The new contract follows on from a £500m deal to build 14 new trains announced in December.
"Just four months since the prime minister and I welcomed a significant deal for Hitachi and its workforce in Newton Aycliffe, this new £300m investment marks yet another step forward in securing the future of rail manufacturing in the North East," Alexander said.
Councillors from across party lines have welcomed the deal in the run up to local elections in County Durham.
Hopgood said the announcement showed "how working in partnership with colleagues in the combined authority can really deliver positive outcomes for future generations".
The council's deputy leader, Conservative Richard Bell, was also pleased the contract had been signed, but said his party had been "lobbying the government for two years to plug the gap in Hitachi's order book".
Green councillor Jonathan Elmer said he was delighted Hitachi had won the contract, as it supported the "modernisation and decarbonisation of mass transport".
Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
Many independent candidates are also standing for election across Durham County Council.
Grand Central runs trains from towns and cities across the north of England to London.
The new trains will increase the fleet's seat numbers by 20%, the equivalent of 400,000 each year.
The trains will be delivered in 2028 under a 10-year leasing arrangement. Hitachi will also be tasked with maintaining the trains over the period.
The company's chief director of UK and Ireland Jim Brewin said the deal was the first battery train order to be built in the UK.
"As we celebrate 200 years since the birth of the modern railway in the North East, it's symbolic that innovative battery trains are being developed in Newton Aycliffe," he said.
"Battery trains' ability to deliver cheaper, greener and more reliable journeys means we are unlocking a new advanced manufacturing opportunity for rail today."