Local Member of Parliament Alan Strickland welcomed Prime Minister Keir Starmer back to Hitachi, where he announced a £500 million deal to help save the factory.
This agreement, negotiated by the Government, Hitachi, First Group and Angel Trains, secures hundreds of jobs at the Aycliffe plant.
The plant had been facing a production gap between major orders, leaving employees concerned about the future. The announcement by the Prime Minister comes after a two-year campaign run by Alan Strickland, the Northern Echo and union representatives.
Alan Strickland MP said: “I’ve been clear since day one that securing the future of Hitachi is my top priority. Dither and delay by the previous government caused serious problems for the plant and the hundreds of people who work there. I’m proud that, by working tirelessly with ministers and the rail industry, I’ve secured this major step forward within months of the election. This world-class factory is a huge asset to our area and deserves our support.”