Hitachi to Build New Railcar Factory in Maryland

Construction of the facility’s building will use 1,050 tons of steel including joists, girders, and structural steel columns. The factory will be built over 41 acres and will include an 800-yard test track. It is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024, with the capability to complete up to 20 railcars each month in a single shift.

Once fully operational, Hitachi Rail will employ 460 direct employees on the site, and the factory will sustain 1,300 total jobs, the company said.

“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,” commented Andrew Barr, Hitachi Rail Group CEO.

Hitachi has already received the factory’s first order: It will build 256 new 8000-series all-electric passenger railcars for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

With a presence in 38 countries on six continents, global rail solutions provider Hitachi Rail’s head office is in London and its main US office is in Pittsburgh.

By Laura Miller, Laura@SteelMarketUpdate.com