A TRAINBUILDER has created more than 500 North-East jobs and is eyeing new contracts to bolster its regional operations, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Hitachi Rail Europe now employs 521 people at its plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, who are making rolling stock for the East Coast and Great Western routes under the Government’s Intercity Express Programme (IEP).

However, bosses have refused to rule out announcing new deals in the coming weeks.

Karen Boswell, managing director, said it is assessing opportunities across the HS2 high-speed rail link, potential deals to make new London tube trains and prospects to supply European lines.

Ms Boswell said the business is well placed to capitalise on its initial successes, adding officials expect to achieve their target of filling 730 posts at Aycliffe soon.

She told The Northern Echo: “The people in the North-East are absolutely dedicated to producing top-quality trains here.

“Train manufacturing contracts are long-term relationships and the IEP deals started us off.

“But there are opportunities out there for HS2, the New Tube for London scheme, and Europe.

“Why would you not want these trains made in the UK?”

Ms Boswell’s fervour was matched by Prime Minister David Cameron, who visited Hitachi’s plant last week during his campaign for Britain to remain in the EU.

Mr Cameron, who last year opened the factory alongside Chancellor George Osborne, said: “You can see excitement around this place.

“It is buzzing with opportunity and they are making fantastic trains, which are going to help modernise our railway lines.

“But there is a huge opportunity for breaking into the European market and making trains that will run on German, Italian or Spanish lines.”