Reports on the BBC have suggested that local train builder Hitachi – local as in they have a factory in the north east at Newton Aycliffe – have been unsuccessful in their bid to build the new trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro but Nexus have denied they have made a decision yet. The new trains are set to be introduced on the network from the end of 2021 with three companies in the running to supply the fleet of 42 vehicles: Hitachi, Stadler and CAF.
The shortlist for the construction of the trains was only announced in June and Nexus have confirmed they don’t intend to make an official announcement until January once they have “completed detailed and thorough evaluation”. However, despite this a leak seems to have sprung in this evaluation as the claims are out in the open that Hitachi will not be the successful bidder – and with the company set to build any trains in the north east this news has been met with anger.
Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, said: “The new Nexus trains will be built by a foreign company, rather than one just down the road. We must stop this madness.”
For their part Nexus released a statement which didn’t go as far as denying that Hitachi had been unsuccessful: “The procurement of our new fleet is an ongoing process, and we have made no decision about who might be awarded the contract to design and build new trains. We will not comment on any details of the respective bids from the final three companies involved – Hitachi Rail, Stadler or CAF – at this stage. The successful bidder will be announced in the new year when we have completed detailed and thorough evaluation.”
Where the truth lies is unclear at this stage but if Nexus were unsure how local reaction may go if it isn’t Hitachi they now know!