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<p>Representatives from Hitachi rail were present at a meeting the Secretary of State
held with TransPennine Express, and relevant stakeholders, to discuss TransPennine
Express’ recent poor performance. The facility at Newton Aycliffe was not discussed
as it was not part of the agenda. Officials from the Department regularly engage with
representatives from Hitachi on a number of matters including current and future projects.</p><p>
</p><p>The Minister for Business & Industry met with the MP for Sedgefield, the
constituency in which Hitachi Rail’s factory in Newton Aycliffe is situated, on 14<sup>th</sup>
January.</p><p> </p><p>At that meeting the Minister for Business & Industry was
informed that a 45 day consultation period is currently underway, and while the exact
numbers won’t be known until late February or early March, understands that some may
be redeployed elsewhere in Hitachi Rail Limited (HRL). The Minister welcomed HRL’s
decision to invest £8.5m in additional capability in Newton Aycliffe to make the plant
more competitive and sustainable in the long term, as this demonstrates the company’s
long term commitment to the North East.</p><p> </p><p>BEIS officials have been in
close contact with HRL senior management at Newton Aycliffe through the last year
over investment in the plant to increase capability and, following the 14<sup>th</sup>
January meeting, have fed back directly to HRL that the Minister would welcome a meeting
with the company’s representatives.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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