Hitachi calls for an end to 'boom and bust' cycle

TRAIN manufacturer Hitachi Rail says the Government must "flatten the curve" on rolling stock procurement to get rid of the current boom and bust cycle that pushed the plant close to closure.

- TOM KEIGHLEY

Executives behind the firm's 750-strong Newton Aycliffe plant submitted detailed evidence to MPs on the Transport Committee, which this week heard from fellow rail firms Alstom and Siemens calling for pipeline certainty to safeguard jobs.

Hitachi said rail reform had caused a stop-start approach to rolling stock procurement, causing uncertainty in the sector with only two significant rolling stock orders since the end of 2019 and a lack of orders in the following years putting the UK industry and jobs at risk.