Crewe is to play a key part in building of high-speed trains

Cheshire East Council has welcomed the announcement that Crewe is to play a key part in the building of HS2’s fleet of high-speed trains.

HS2 Ltd has confirmed that it has awarded Alstom and Hitachi Rail the contract to build the fleet at their factories in County Durham, Derby and Crewe.

As part of this, all the bogies (which house train wheelsets) will both be assembled and maintained at Alstom’s Crewe facility – the first time since 2004 that both jobs have been done in the UK.

Hitachi/Alstom JV estimates that the award could boost the economy by more than £157m per year of the contract and support 2,500 jobs across the UK including opportunities for apprenticeships and graduates.

Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its highways and transport committee, said: “This announcement further highlights the strength of Crewe’s rail supply and its highly-skilled workforce, and we hope that many of the jobs anticipated to be supported by this contract will be opportunities for people in the town and the wider borough.

“Crewe already has an undeniable rich rail heritage, but news such as this will ensure that its status as the railway town is cemented for generations to come.

“And, as we await further information about the competition to find a national headquarters for new public body Great British Railways, so that we can progress our bid, this announcement also reinforces our belief that Crewe is absolutely the best and ideal location for this.”