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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Hitachi Rail Establishes Hagerstown, Maryland, Railcar Complex

03/23/2022
Hitachi Rail, a global provider of rail solutions, is establishing its new railcar manufacturing operations in Washington County, Maryland. The $70 millions project is expected to create 460 jobs.

As part of a major U.S. expansion the company is planning to build a 307,000 square-foot facility on Greencastle Pike in Hagerstown, according to state officials. The site will help Hitachi fulfill its March 2021 $2.2 billion contract with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to build its new fleet of 8000-series railcars.

“I’m delighted to confirm the location of our new state-of-the-art U.S. train factory in Washington County, Maryland. From here our 460 strong American workforce will build a fleet of modern metro trains and have the capability to build trains for towns and cities across North America,” said Andrew Barr, Group CEO of Hitachi Rail. “Hitachi Rail’s mission is to provide more seamless, sustainable journeys for passengers, customers and cities, and the creation of a new American train factory reflects our ambition to deliver for the United States.”

The investment represents a continuation of its commitment to improve passenger and freight rail transportation in North America. The Washington County site will serve the Washington D.C. metro area as completed trains will be delivered to Metro’s Greenbelt Rail Yard, a 90 minute drive from the new facility. The Hagerstown area serves as a major logistical center for rail transportation and has excellent connections to the Northeastern United States.

“Hitachi Rail is an incredible global company, and their decision to select Hagerstown as the site of a major U.S. expansion is tremendous news for Washington County and the entire state of Maryland,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “With this new facility, Hitachi Rail will create hundreds of critical manufacturing jobs in our state with the capability to serve the wider North American market. We are excited to work together on this transformative project and look forward to the company’s continued success in Maryland,” he added.

Maryland Department of Commerce and Washington County worked with Hitachi and will continue to assist the company as it moves forward in building the new facility.

“We are thrilled to support Hitachi Rail in its efforts to open a new manufacturing operation in Maryland,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “With help from our state’s tech-savvy workforce and convenient access to I-70 and I-81, Hitachi Rail will be situated in an ideal location to grow its business in North America.”

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Hitachi Rail already employs more than 1,400 people and is delivering programs across the entire transportation sector; from building Honolulu’s first ever railway, to major signaling in San Francisco, manufacturing train cars in Miami, and supporting rail freight firms across Maryland.

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