To celebrate 200 years since the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, Hitachi Rail hosted a gala dinner at their plant in Aycliffe Business Park.
The event was attended by Lord Lieutenant Dame Susan Snowdon, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the Japanese Ambassador and local MP Alan Strickland. They were joined by plant workers and people from across the rail industry. Attendees heard speeches about the history of public passenger railways in County Durham and how the plant continues this proud heritage of innovative rail manufacturing in the town.
Alan Strickland, Member of Parliament for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, said: “Our town played a crucial role in the history of the railways, when Locomotion No 1 was put on the tracks for the first time at what’s now Heighington station. That moment in 1825 marked the birth of public passenger rail, which spread all over the world. It’s really important we celebrate this history and the role Aycliffe still plays at the cutting edge of rail technology.”