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Train factory jobs for Gateshead

Gateshead could be in line for hundreds of jobs if a contract for building new “super express” trains goes to the town.

The government said a £7.5bn fleet of new “super express” trains running on the East Coast Main Line from 2013 would be built in Britain. The trains will be built by British-led consortium Agility Trains, made up of Japanese train builder Hitachi and UK firms John Laing and Barclays.

Consortium head Alistair Dormer said Gateshead is a “very strong candidate” as the location for its factory employing between 200 and 500 workers.

Mr Dormer confirmed train body shells would be shipped from Japan, but insisted most of the work would be done in the UK, with jobs also created in the supply chain. He added that the company would use the new facility as a springboard to win other train building contracts.

Sites in Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire and Sheffield are also on the shortlist, but the North East’s experience in the car industry could swing the decision.

Mr Dormer said: “Gateshead is a very strong candidate. We have looked at over 20 different sites in the last 12 months in terms of establishing a manufacturing facility.”

He stressed sites needed to be big enough with good rail access, adding the local skills base and proximity to suppliers were also being examined.

Mr Dormer declined to say which site he favoured, but recognised the region’s engineering expertise thanks to its car industry, which took off when Japanese firm Nissan set up in the region.

He said: “I know Hitachi has had extensive dialogue with Nissan in terms of their experience of bringing in manufacturing to the UK.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .