Hitachi Rail Europe

Last July, Hitachi Rail Europe, a subsidiary of Hitachi, confirmed it would construct a UK factory after it secured an order from the Department for Transport to build the next generation of high speed trains for the Intercity Express Programme (IEP). The plant is due to be operational in 2015 with a start on site date anticipated for the end of this year. The project goes out to tender for a contractor this month.

Ryder Architecture has designed the manufacturing facility and proposed European base for Hitachi Rail Europe, which will also include rail test facilities. The Hitachi train manufacturing facility is the first part of a bigger jigsaw that is set to attract further businesses to the adjacent sites on Merchant Place Developments’ Amazon Park in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, creating a truly international manufacturing hub.

Ryder partner, Tim Jeffery, said “This is a major milestone for a significant national and international project. The facility will provide a high quality working environment with flexibility to adapt to future requirements. The design includes excellent environmental responsiveness and extended building life. It underlines our on-going commitment to industrial and infrastructure projects and to client focussed solutions.”

Celebrating 60 years of design excellence, Ryder was founded in 1953 and today has successful offices in Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Newcastle. Major national flagship projects over its six decades include, Norgas House, Vickers, Liverpool Science Park, Avon HQ and Manchester Central Library.