Changes on the railway

Open access order staves off threat of Hitachi lay-offs

A production gap at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe rolling stock assembly plant has been filled by an order for 14 five-car trainsets for use by FirstGroup on existing and approved open access services, with an option for a further 13 sets if regulatory approval is given for further new routes. It resolves the need for Hitachi to mothball its production line until the assembly of HS2 rolling stock starts. The need for vehicles follows First’s acquisition of the Grand Union company that holds access rights to start new services between Stirling and Euston and between Carmarthen and Paddington. The initial agreement was finalised in August, with the South Wales services following in December, ending uncertainty about the provision of rolling stock to operate the agreed timetable. The earlier expectation was that…

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RAIL (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 1025

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