L to R: Paula Whitehead (Hitachi), Kerina Clark (Xcel)  and Daniela Karthaus (Hitachi)

With the start of the new year, the project to bring train-building back to County Durham has moved into a new phase.

Hitachi Rail Europe’s first local employee, Paula Whitehead can now leave her home office and work from the newly established company office in the Xcel Centre.

Just minutes from the site which will in future house the train factory, the Xcel Centre is a perfect base for Paula: “Having this new office in Newton Aycliffe as a base is another important milestone for Hitachi Rail Europe.”

“Over many months and even years, we have already established strong working relationships with many businesses in the region. The next step is to strengthen these and even expand the number of relationships across the area. The new office in the Xcel Centre is the ideal location for this.”

Kerina Clark, the Centre Manager is happy to welcome Hitachi to the Xcel Centre: “Ever since we hosted the first, tremendously successful Open Day event for Hitachi Rail Europe two years ago, we have had a very good relationship with them. It is great to see that Paula is settling in to her new office and hopefully she will be joined by more of her colleagues soon.”