Contractor to build factory for Hitachi in the North East of England
Shepherd has been awarded the contract to build a 拢82m train factory for Hitachi in the North East of England.
When complete the factory in Newton Aycliffe will build 122 trains for the East Coast Main Line and the Great Western Main Line.
Work on the 43,000m2 high-techfactory will start later this year and conclude in mid-2015.
The development of the scheme is being led by Merchant Place Developments, who will also manage the fit-out of the plant.
Mark Perkins, chief executive of Shepherd Group鈥檚 built environment division, said he was 鈥渄elighted鈥� to have won the contract for the 鈥渓andmark development鈥�.
He added: 鈥淪hepherd invested a vast amount of time and research carefully gathering insight into Hitachi鈥檚 specific requirements before proposing exactly how we would deliver such a large and complex scheme, which meant gaining a comprehensive understanding of what the facility has to achieve and, of course, Hitachi鈥檚 exceptional standards in building trains.
Perkins said Shepherd鈥檚 鈥渋ntegrated supply chain鈥� had been a key factor in winning the job.
The project was kick-started by an investment of 拢4m by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills under its Grant for Business Investment programme.
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, said: 鈥満蒙壬鶷V theses new trains is supporting jobs and manufacturing across the UK. Like our plans for a national high speed rail network, these new faster trains will help stimulate economic growth by improving connections between our major cities.鈥�
Alistair Dormer, chief executive and chair of Hitachi Rail Europe, said the factory was a 鈥渉uge step towards鈥� establishing the firm as key train manufacturer in the UK.
Hitachi said 150 jobs would be created during the construction phase.
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