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UK Hitachi plant wins order for 270 more train carriages UK Hitachi plant wins order for 270 more train carriages
(2 months later)
Hitachi's new British plant in County Durham has won an order to build a further £1.2bn of intercity trains after it starts operations in 2015.Hitachi's new British plant in County Durham has won an order to build a further £1.2bn of intercity trains after it starts operations in 2015.
The order confirms an option for more trains in the original deal signed in 2012, three years after Hitachi had been named preferred bidder. The 270 carriages agreed on Thursday will bring the total order to 866, with the first to start running on the Great Western mainline from 2017.The order confirms an option for more trains in the original deal signed in 2012, three years after Hitachi had been named preferred bidder. The 270 carriages agreed on Thursday will bring the total order to 866, with the first to start running on the Great Western mainline from 2017.
The trains will be assembled at the purpose-built factory in Newton Aycliffe, creating 730 jobs.The trains will be assembled at the purpose-built factory in Newton Aycliffe, creating 730 jobs.
The new order is for Class 800 series trains that will start running on the east coast mainline from 2018, cutting journey times by 18 minutes between London and Edinburgh and providing more space and seats.The new order is for Class 800 series trains that will start running on the east coast mainline from 2018, cutting journey times by 18 minutes between London and Edinburgh and providing more space and seats.
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "By signing this deal we have provided further proof of our determination to transform Britain's railways into a world-class operation through continued investment and state-of-the-art technology."Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "By signing this deal we have provided further proof of our determination to transform Britain's railways into a world-class operation through continued investment and state-of-the-art technology."
Alistair Dormer, chief executive of Hitachi Rail Europe, said: "This order extends firm orders at the factory until the end of the decade with significant capacity remaining available for further UK and export contracts actively being pursued."Alistair Dormer, chief executive of Hitachi Rail Europe, said: "This order extends firm orders at the factory until the end of the decade with significant capacity remaining available for further UK and export contracts actively being pursued."
Eversholt Rail, which leases the current InterCity 225 fleet of trains used on the east coast service, said it was disappointed that the DfT had decided to procure more trains rather than let a new franchisee decide what rolling stock to use, claiming that refurbushing and modernising its trains would have offered "substantial cost savings".Eversholt Rail, which leases the current InterCity 225 fleet of trains used on the east coast service, said it was disappointed that the DfT had decided to procure more trains rather than let a new franchisee decide what rolling stock to use, claiming that refurbushing and modernising its trains would have offered "substantial cost savings".
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