New UK factory for Hitachi as DfT finalises Express train order for new franchises

Impression of the new Intercity stock to be built by Agility Trains for the government.

Impression of the new Intercity stock to be built by Agility Trains for the government.

The announcement of the government’s electrification plan for the UK railway network during 2014-19 (see New Directions page 8) has allowed confirmation of £4.5bn of orders for the government-procured Intercity Express trains for the new East Coast and Great Western franchises, under moves that will bring their assembly to a new factory in Britain.

Agility Trains (a consortium of Hitachi and John Laing) was originally named supplier and maintainer of the replacements for the ageing...