Hitatchi IEP - Newton Aycliffe Site favoured

[142094]

Can't find any word on the forums about this, although it has been covered by the local rag up here and think it is on BBC. Apparently Newton Aycliffe is the favoured site for the IEP train factory, if Hitatchi get the contract (if the contract survives the spending cuts). Good news for the local economy, and good for me to go and see. For those who don't know, Newton Aycliffe is between Darlington and Bishop Auckland and is a few minutes from Shildon, where BR had a massive wagonworks which shut down under Thatcher.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

although it has been covered by the local rag up here and think it is on BBC.

here's the BBC story.

"The firm said Newton Aycliffe was the "first choice". Another site in North Wales has also been short-listed."

 

[The Snap]

Good news for the North East employment market!

 

[gordonthemoron]

however, Newton Aycliffe is hardly the nicest of places

 

[EWS 58038]

Well, next year they start using Pendolino's on the Eastcoast... So I put my money on those trains to replace the HST.

Much cheaper to build, maintain, certify and operate

 

[jopsuk]

Surely then it's an ideal place to put a whacking big factory? Doesn't "spoil" the area, provides local jobs?

 

[gordonthemoron]

there is that, I agree. It might be an idea to wire up the Bishop branch

 

[Royston Vasey]

Well, next year they start using Pendolino's on the Eastcoast... So I put my money on those trains to replace the HST.

Much cheaper to build, maintain, certify and operate

Saw your post after I'd posted in the East Coast Rumour thread!

Totally agree. In fact on reflection I believe the EC Pendolino is being done to scope the possibility of exactly that.

 

[route:oxford]

So, at just about the same time as there are suggestions that Pendolinos could be used on the ECML - there are sudden announcements of jobs relating to the potential new IEP stock in barren wastelands of the North...

Someone is spinning madly.

 

[Invincibles]

So now when the IEP project inevitably gets pulled the government will lose a lot of support in the north east and Wales...

It seems a brilliant idea to create jobs and promote an area that has suffered from the lack of competitiveness of UK industry, there may even still be grants for such things. However the reality remains that if it was a good idea then we would be doing it, or something similar.

There is the possibility that this will happen as part of whatever compromise is developed as the Birmingham Pendolino assembly place closed didn't it? There will need to be some good news for the north east before the next election whatever happens.

 

[EWS 58038]

So now when the IEP project inevitably gets pulled the government will lose a lot of support in the north east and Wales...

It seems a brilliant idea to create jobs and promote an area that has suffered from the lack of competitiveness of UK industry, there may even still be grants for such things. However the reality remains that if it was a good idea then we would be doing it, or something similar.

There is the possibility that this will happen as part of whatever compromise is developed as the Birmingham Pendolino assembly place closed didn't it? There will need to be some good news for the north east before the next election whatever happens.

Come on... if this program is skipped then another one will emerge from the ashes within a year or two...

And guess what, that program requires the trains to be build in the North East or Wales.

Hitachi is doing everything in their powers to keep the project rolling.
But Pendolino's can be build in the UK as well.

 

[Greenback]

So now when the IEP project inevitably gets pulled the government will lose a lot of support in the north east and Wales...

It seems a brilliant idea to create jobs and promote an area that has suffered from the lack of competitiveness of UK industry, there may even still be grants for such things. However the reality remains that if it was a good idea then we would be doing it, or something similar.

There is the possibility that this will happen as part of whatever compromise is developed as the Birmingham Pendolino assembly place closed didn't it? There will need to be some good news for the north east before the next election whatever happens.

Did the government have much support in the North East? There's precious little in Wales, well South Wales anyway!

I'm not sure how likely this is to happen at all, but the North East has a fine raiwlay history and certainly needs more employment opportunities!

 

[142094]

Support for which government? Most of Durham is Labour dominated, so not much support for the current government.

 

[Greenback]

I meant the curent one, although some of Labour's traditional support has fallen away in South Wales, mostly benefitting Plaid Cymru!

 

[Bish Boy]

I work literally 200 yds away from Amazon business park at Aycliffe where the factory would be built. Can't wait for the decision on IEP would be class to see train building return to the area. Im not holding my breath tho I agree that the pendalino's are prob the way the DfT will go.

 

[merlodlliw]

I meant the curent one, although some of Labour's traditional support has fallen away in South Wales, mostly benefitting Plaid Cymru!

And with all due respect Greenback, in North Wales all Labour losses have been Con Gains, thats why there is a flurry to get the work into Flintshire by WAG.
IE Welsh Lab/Plaid alliance seats

 

[Invincibles]

I was not being sarcastic when talking about support in the North East as of course, like South Wales, there will be third or fourth places up for grabs. These voters may well desert in the face of a cancellation announcement.

My real feeling therefore is that there is an opportunity somewhere, and on some project, to promote community and wider society involvement to get a major regeneration project off the ground. Maybe, just maybe, the IEP will be that project.

Whether the IEP going to Flintshire would ultimately lead to support for the Welsh Labour or Plaid I do not know.

Of the two locations I would favour the North East for this one if I was making the decision.

 

[dave59]

I work literally 200 yds away from Amazon business park at Aycliffe where the factory would be built. Can't wait for the decision on IEP would be class to see train building return to the area. Im not holding my breath tho I agree that the pendalino's are prob the way the DfT will go.

Well let's hope not, at least not the Class 390 version of it. If the quality of the 395 is anything to go by Hitachi should get the work.

 

[Bish Boy]

Well let's hope not, at least not the Class 390 version of it. If the quality of the 395 is anything to go by Hitachi should get the work.

Fingers crossed i think i'd rather keep the HST's. Didn't i hear a few years ago that Tyne yard was also in the running for the Hitachi factory?

 

[jopsuk]

Perhaps the 395, as is (minus 3rd rail gear), would actually be ideal for the "commuter" variant of the IEP? De-scope the whole idea of a common train with various configurations- 395s for the commuter version (in shorter formations for Cambridge, perhaps longer for Norwich*), Pendolinos for the electric intercity and limping along for the diesels- maybe wire up the Norwich Mark 3 sets to work with 67s to supplement the HSTs.

*Hah! that would upset them, commuter trains for the Great Eastern!

 

[142094]

Fingers crossed i think i'd rather keep the HST's. Didn't i hear a few years ago that Tyne yard was also in the running for the Hitachi factory?

The southern end was ideal, being right next to the ECML and A1 and also being disused. Haven't heard anything else about it in a while.

 

[EWS 58038]

Perhaps the 395, as is (minus 3rd rail gear), would actually be ideal for the "commuter" variant of the IEP? De-scope the whole idea of a common train with various configurations- 395s for the commuter version (in shorter formations for Cambridge, perhaps longer for Norwich*), Pendolinos for the electric intercity and limping along for the diesels- maybe wire up the Norwich Mark 3 sets to work with 67s to supplement the HSTs.

*Hah! that would upset them, commuter trains for the Great Eastern!

Which is exactly what they DON'T want.

They want 1 train type. Having only 1 train type is cheap to maintain, get certified, and operate.
If you stick Javalin type trains you will have a perfect solution for Great Easten, but I doubt people will like it all the way up to Edinburgh.
Pendolino on the other hand does have it's benefits for long distances, but absolutely not suitable for commuter business.
Whatever type you choose, one of them has to be modified at a high price.

Furthermore I think the EU should ban Hitachi for selling trains in Europe because the Japanese market is closed to manufacturers outside Japan.

 

[jopsuk]

But that's not what they want- they want five car, commuter layout units for the Cambridge/Kings Lynn/Peterborough route and ten car, intercity layout units for the Edinburgh route (plus various diesel and hybrid monsters for other routes). It is part of the madness of the whole IEP.

 

[swt_passenger]

But that's not what they want- they want five car, commuter layout units for the Cambridge/Kings Lynn/Peterborough route and ten car, intercity layout units for the Edinburgh route (plus various diesel and hybrid monsters for other routes). It is part of the madness of the whole IEP.

The difference between their layouts was in the minor details. The IEP commuter variant was still 2+2 with some tables, and end doors, it just had marginally different leg room (750 mm vs 800 mm seat spacing), and a different proportion of airline seating, different luggage stowages; and lastly a slightly different First/Standard ratio.

It was comparable to the slight differences between FGW's commuter and long distance HST variants...

 

[jon0844]

Could you not build the 390s in the UK if the order is large enough? Make it a condition of the tender if necessary?

And surely you could build an Inter-city style model and a commuter-style model that still shares the same shell, electrics, engines and so on? We're talking about different seating and more doors for the commuter version but probably not much else - and if the interior was modular, you could adapt them in the future cheaply for use on other routes.

It's not as if FCC (or whoever has the franchise) will be sharing trains with EC (or whoever) for the two very different types of route, even if they share the ECML for much of it.

There would still be other trains sharing the line, from open access operators to the predicted London Overground operation in the inner-suburban area (with 378s or similar). I am sure that's workable.

 

[MCR247]

Were built in the UK essentially, the parts came in separately and they were assembled in Washwood Heath, Birmingham

 

[Geezertronic]

Were built in the UK essentially, the parts came in separately and they were assembled in Washwood Heath, Birmingham

Which has been flattened now

 

[daikilo]

And with all due respect Greenback, in North Wales all Labour losses have been Con Gains, thats why there is a flurry to get the work into Flintshire by WAG.
IE Welsh Lab/Plaid alliance seats

Guys, pls focus on our future. 1) high tech, 2) high added value 3) high tech. etc. This is great news, we are a focus for technology development in the UK. Metals, carbons, composites, lean delivery, lean manufacturing

 

[paul1609]

Which is exactly what they DON'T want.

They want 1 train type. Having only 1 train type is cheap to maintain, get certified, and operate.
If you stick Javalin type trains you will have a perfect solution for Great Easten, but I doubt people will like it all the way up to Edinburgh.
Pendolino on the other hand does have it's benefits for long distances, but absolutely not suitable for commuter business.
Whatever type you choose, one of them has to be modified at a high price.

Furthermore I think the EU should ban Hitachi for selling trains in Europe because the Japanese market is closed to manufacturers outside Japan.

To be honest as a regular Ashford International to Edinburgh traveller I'd much rather have a 395 to Edinburgh than the current stock, better legroom better seats much better acceleration. Lets face it replacement stock of anykind is unlikely to include restaurant or buffet cars.

 

[Bish Boy]

The southern end was ideal, being right next to the ECML and A1 and also being disused. Haven't heard anything else about it in a while.

Was on the news tonight Hitachi have completely ruled out Tyne yard the North easts only hope is now Aycliffe although apparently Darlington were trying to persuade Hitachi that Morton Park was the place to build.