A TRAINBUILDER could make next generation rolling stock for millions of people across London.

Hitachi Rail Europe is bidding for a London Underground contract.

The company, based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has formed a joint venture with fellow manufacturer Bombardier in an attempt to secure the work.

The contract is understood to be for around 1,700 cars, however bidders are believed to think there is potential to supply up to 3,000 cars.

Hitachi’s move comes just weeks after Karen Boswell, managing director, told The Northern Echo the business was keen on taking advantage of London Underground’s New Tube for London programme.

It also follows an Echo exclusive, which revealed Hitachi will create a further 150 fixed-term jobs at its Aycliffe plant, to build on its 730-strong workforce and support work on Great Western, East Coast Main Line and Scottish rolling stock.

Bids for the London Underground scheme are due to be submitted by late September, with Hitachi expected to face competition from numerous market rivals.

A spokesman said it was too early to speculate on potential manufacturing arrangement for Underground trains, but did not rule out the possibility of significant work coming to Aycliffe.

London Underground bosses say they need new trains to meet rising demand, with London’s population tipped to rise from 8.4 million to ten million by 2030.

They added the updated stock will give it greater capacity on lines such as Piccadilly, saying that route will gain room for 21,000 further passengers every hour.

Speaking about its plans earlier this year, Ms Boswell told the Echo: “The people in the North-East are absolutely dedicated to producing top-quality trains.

“Train manufacturing contracts are long-term relationships 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?”

Hitachi is making stock for the East Coast and Great Western routes under the Government’s Intercity Express Programme, which will come into operation in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Last week, the Echo also revealed the business is just days away from assembling rolling stock destined for Scottish lines.

The company has a contract to supply hundreds of carriages for the ScotRail franchise and work is expected to start once the factory’s summer shutdown ends later this month.

The 100mph commuter trains will be made up of three-car and four-car trains, known as Class 385s, and are expected to run from late 2017 on electrified lines between Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as routes covering Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane.

Meanwhile, security and surveillance firm Petards has secured a £1.3m contract to support a trainbuilder’s capital city venture.

The business will supply Bombardier with equipment for its London Overground rolling stock.

Bosses say services will use Petard’s EyeTrain apparatus, which includes cameras to monitor passenger safety at stations and in carriages.

Deliveries are expected to start later this year and be completed in 2018.

Petards, which trades from its Gateshead-based subsidiary, Petards Joyce-Loebl Limited, previously beat off competition to provide Hitachi with passenger counting systems and driver reminder safety switches for stock made at Aycliffe.