TRAIN manufacturing will return to the North-East this week when Hitachi opens its £82m train facility.

Hundreds of guests and journalists from around the world will attend the event at the Japanese firm’s purpose-built Newton Aycliffe Rail Vehicle Manufacturing Facility (RVMF). which will eventually employ more than 700 people.

The firm already employs almost 100 North-East staff and those numbers are set to double before Christmas, and soar to around 400 by next spring, as production of the InerCity Express trains for the UK network.

Construction of the facility has been led by building firm Shepherd who managed the landmark project from its offices in Darlington. At its peak the Merchant Park site was one of the UK's biggest building projects, employing more than 400 workers.

Hitachi has stressed that wherever possible it handed contracts to build the facility to local suppliers. Steel firm Finley Structures, based on Aycliffe Business Park, supplied and erected the facility framework, while Hall Construction of Rushyford, County Durham, was among the North-East firms to benefit from the scheme.

Karen Boswell, the recently-appointed managing director of Hitachi Rail Europe, told The Northern Echo that 95 per cent of the workforce that designed and constructed the factory came from towns within a 50 mile radius.

The manufacturer has been deluged by job applications, with 91 per cent of the people looking for a job at the plant coming from the North-East - 45 per cent of them hailing from County Durham.

“This has had a hugely positive impact on the regional economy and supply chain. We are creating more than 700 jobs as well as apprenticeships right here in the North-East,” explained Karen Boswell.

Hitachi looked at other potential locations across the UK and on the Continent before it chose to build the factory on land beside Aycliffe Business Park.

"We must not forget the campaign we needed to ensure the facility was given the go-ahead and the part played by The Northern Echo, local businesses, trade unions, and the local community. Their help, support and optimism won the day," said Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson, who played a leading role in bringing the project to the North-East.

The new facility will initially be used to make trains for the Great Western and the East Coast Main Lines.

Hitachi will manufacture a total of 866 Class 800/801 train carriages destined to run on the Great Western Main Line from 2017 and East Coast Main Line from 2018.

In addition, the new facility will make new AT200 commuter trains for Abellio's ScotRail franchise.

The Aycliffe site will have the capacity to manufacture 35 vehicles each month and its production capability includes high-speed inter-city trains, commuter and metro trains.

In addition, the facility has a research and development centre and an on-site rail track.

The Northern Echo will welcome the return of train manufacturing to the North-East with a series of special newspaper features and online at www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

*Tomorrow we feature an exclusive interview with Hitachi Rail Europe's new MD, Karen Boswell.

*Thursday’s Echo will include a free 8-page souvenir supplement on the project that is creating 730 North-East jobs and the front cover of that day’s paper will feature a unique Hitachi wrap.

*On Thursday morning we will be reporting live from inside the new facility as a very special guest opens Hitachi’s £82m investment in the North-East.

*And on Friday we will have all of the news and pictures from the opening ceremony which promises to be an unforgettable occasion.