HS2 train
While visiting Japan, Alexander met her ministerial counterpart Yasushi Kaneko.
She also toured Hitachi’s Tokyo headquarters.
The company has a factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, which employs about 600 people.
The Transport Secretary’s discussion focused on high-speed rail and infrastructure development, especially the ways in which Japan’s railway stations have driven economic growth.
The UK government believes that it can learn lessons from this to help with plans for the new London Euston station.
The new station, which will be the London terminus of HS2.
The London Borough of Camden has forecast that the station’s development could facilitate 2,000-plus new homes and 34,000 new jobs.
It could also contribute £41 billion to the UK economy.
The visit enabled Heidi Alexander to understand Japan’s experience of managing simultaneous, multiple large-scale rail projects.
This should be helpful with planning for UK infrastructure programmes such as Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2.
Shinkansen’s next generation of trains has been designed in the UK and will begin entering service in 2030.