Engineering students visit Hitachi Rail

Our Level 2 Engineering students were very impressed during their tour of Hitachi Rail today (April 27).

SWDT engineering lecturer Anthony Garnett (left) and Skills Coach and Personal Mentor Julie McManus (right) with the students at today's visit.

The tour of the Newton Aycliffe facility included the fabrication section, where the coach bodies are welded together and inspected for defects.

The ten students were then taken into the painting section where the coaches are cleaned, shot blasted, then given two priming coats and two finishing coats of paint before the logo stencils are applied.

They then saw the finishing assembly lines where the toilets, electrical wiring, wifi, carpets, seats, tables, water and ventilation system are installed, with the motors, wheels and braking systems being the last parts to be attached.

The students were extremely impressed with the facility, with some of them asking about applying for apprenticeships in the near future.

A big thank you to Hitachi Rail Europe's Kendra Stonehouse and Karen Kerr for the tour, along with various section leaders who shared their knowledge with the students.