The
future


of
the
Alstom
plant
at
Litchurch
Lane
in
Derby
is
looking
more
secure,
after
‘intensive
discussions’
between
Alstom
Group
and
the
government,
but
there
is
still
serious
concern
over
the
future
of
the
Hitachi
plant
at
Newton
Aycliffe
in
County
Durham,
which
was
built
a
decade
ago
to
supply
the
new
Intercity
Express
fleets,
and
where
750
jobs
could
be
at
risk.

The
gap
in
new
train
orders
is
affecting
Newton
Aycliffe
as
well
as
Derby,
but
the
Prime
Minster
told
the
Commons
yesterday
that
‘the
Department
for
Transport
and
the
secretary
of
state
have
been
actively
engaged
with
companies
to
ensure
that
we
have
a
robust
supply
chain’.

The
Department
for
Transport
said
there
had
been
‘constructive’
talks
with
union
representatives,
and
that
it
remained
‘committed
to
secure
a
sustainable
future
for
rail
manufacturing
at
Newton
Aycliffe’.

Meanwhile
Unite
the
union
has
urged
the
government
to
‘pull
its
finger
out’,
because
Unite
wants
to
see
more
trains
built
in
County
Durham
for
the
West
Coast
Main
Line.

Hitachi
said:
‘The
North
East
skills
base
and
supply
chain
we
have
built
has
delivered
social
value
and
levelling-up.
Maintaining
these
benefits
is
in
the
national
interest.
Despite
the
lack
of
certainty,
we
remain
committed
to
working
with
all
stakeholders
to
find
a
viable
way
forward
for
our
state-of-the-art
manufacturing
facility
in
Newton
Aycliffe.

‘Preserving
regional
skills
and
supply
chain
will
allow
us
to
be
competitive
in
future
procurements
and
support
British
economic
growth.’