When fully operational, the factory will sustain 1,300 jobs, with up to 460 people working directly for Hitachi Rail. The new jobs will command total earnings of $350 million per year and bring major economic benefits to the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia region.

On Thursday, 18th October, Maryland Governor, Larry Hogan, Maryland Congressman, David Trone, and Washington Maryland Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager, Randy Clarke, were hosted by Hitachi Rail CEO, Andrew Barr, and given an exclusive first glimpse of final designs for the site and the progress of construction.

The factory’s first order is for 256 new 8000-series Metrorail cars for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) to be delivered in 2024, with options for up to 800 cars to be built. When fully operational, the factory will have the capacity for up to 20 railcars per month and have the capability to produce a wide range of trains from metro to high-speed services.

The 8000-Series are all-electric vehicles that incorporate popular features including WiFi, digital information screens high-definition CCXTV, improved ventilation, stringent cybersecurity, heated floors, and regenerative braking. With 130 seats per pair of cars, the new trains will will be a major upgrade when they replace the 2000- and 3000-series fleets that have been in service since the early 1980s.

The lead site developer is the US construction firm, Ryan Companies. Land clearance, the concrete deck, and most external concrete walls have been completed, and factory opening is scheduled for early 2024. To complete the construction of the factory, 1,050 tons of steel will be required, which includes joists, girders, and structural steel columns, and 12,430 cubic yards of concrete will be needed which is enough to fill almost four Olympic-sized swimming pools.

This factory continues Hitachi Rail’s commitment to improving passenger and freight rail transportation in the USA. Although the Maryland factory will focus on building trains, Hitachi Rail is involved across the entire transportation sector, including major signalling systems, building completely new railways, and supporting rail freight firms nationwide.

Andrew Barr, Group CEO, Hitachi Rail, said: “With construction of our new train $70m factory on schedule and progressing well, we are one step closer to delivering a new, high-quality fleet for the Washington DC Region’s Metro. It is exciting to be able to release the final designs of our new facility with its cutting-edge Lumada technology. Manufacturing pioneering trains is core to our business, and this factory, with its new workforce, will have the capability to build trains for all of North America.”

Maryland Governor, Larry Hogan, said: “It is exciting to see the new Hitachi Rail factory coming together as the job creation potential and associated economic benefits will be an absolute game changer for Washington County as well as the entire region. This transformative project is further proof that the Hagerstown region is a major logistical center for rail transportation with unparalleled connections to the northeastern United States, and is yet another shining example that Maryland is truly open for business.”

Congressman David Trone, said: “This new factory in Hagerstown will deliver over 1,000 good-paying jobs to the community and strengthen our public transportation options across the entire Metro system. After looking at Hitachi’s final plans for the factory today, it’s clear that this effort has an incredible return on investment for Marylanders. It’s crucial that public transportation allows folks to get to work on time, pick up their kids, or just get from point A to point B. I welcome Hitachi Rail to our district and look forward to the economic opportunities this facility will bring to Washington County.”

Randy Clarke, General Manager and CEO, Metro, said: “We are proud to have Metro’s new 8000-series railcars built in the National Capital Area. Creating local jobs and economic benefit for the region was essential to Metro and will return Metro’s investment to families, businesses, and the region we serve.”

Kyle Schott, vice president of real estate development at Ryan, said: “Ryan Companies is excited to have the opportunity to support Hitachi Rail in its efforts to improve passenger and freight rail transportation in the United States and North America. It is a privilege to lead the development of this state-of-the-art facility and with construction on schedule.”

“It is exciting to see the new Hitachi Rail factory coming together as the job creation potential and associated economic benefits will be an absolute game changer for Washington County as well as the entire region. This transformative project is further proof that the Hagerstown region is a major logistical center for rail transportation with unparalleled connections to the northeastern United States, and is yet another shining example that Maryland is truly open for business.”

“Ryan Companies is excited to have the opportunity to support Hitachi Rail in its efforts to improve passenger and freight rail transportation in the United States and North America. It is a privilege to lead the development of this state-of-the-art facility and with construction on schedule.